36 DISEASE KESISTANCE OF POTATOES. 



breeding and selection. Prof. William Stuart, of the Vermont station, 

 has undertaken this work in connection with the development of resist- 

 ance to blight and rot.« He has made further trials during the last 

 two years, but without conclusive results as 3^et. 



A request for information as to relative scab resistance was inserted 

 in the circular of inquiry, already referred to, recently sent to Amer- 

 ican potato specialists. Most of the replies to this question were 

 negative in character, but a number gave interesting information, 

 some of which is especially pertinent. The strongest evidence as to 

 scab resistance comes from Mr. Hiram Presley, of Port Huron, Mich., 

 a potato specialist, who has tested hundreds of varieties during the past 

 thirty years. He commends the Cambridge Russet as practically 

 exempt from scab. Mr. Frank Paddock, of Perry, N. Y., gives like 



evidence. 



Carmen No. 3 is highly spoken of as scab resisting by several grow- 

 ers in Ohio, New York, and Vermont, but one Michigan correspondent 

 condemns it. 



American Giant receives strong indorsement from Freehold, N. J., 

 and vicinity; Salzer's Scabproof from Wisconsin, and Aurora from 

 Vermont. Favorable reports come from New York regarding Sir 

 Walter Raleigh and Irish Cobbler, and from Canada regarding 

 Mclntyre. 



The following were each commended by one correspondent from the 

 localities mentioned in parentheses: Best (Maine); Doe's Pride (Maine); 

 Early Freeman (Ontario); Keeper (New Hampshire); Seneca Beauty 

 (Michigan); Squier (Vermont); White Beauty (Michigan); White 

 Elephant (New Jersey); White Scotch King (Minnesota). 



On the other hand, the Early Ohio and some of its seedlings are 

 condemned as especially liable to scab. Early Rose, Bliss Triumph, 

 and Beauty of Hebron are also reported to scab badly. 



It is encouraging to note that in some cases the same variety is rated 

 as in a high degree resistant to both diseases, the scab and the late-blight 

 and rot. A similar coincidence will be found if a comparison is made 

 of the lists of German varieties showing resistance to the several 

 diseases discussed earlier in these pages, and the same thing was 

 observed in some degree with the English varieties. 



This indicates that the attributes which give power of resistance 

 against one disease are not incompatible with those operative against 

 another. Indeed, it is not unlikely that the general characteristics of 

 disease resistance may prove to be similar or the same for these vari- 

 ous maladies. If so, it will prove the easier to secure the model 

 potato, which, while possessing that which is desirable in quality and 

 productiveness, shall, in addition, show the highest degree of resist- 

 ance to the various diseases. This is an ideal worth striving for. 



"Vermont Exp. Sta. Bui. 115, p. 139. 



