408 THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



The Excursion to the Delta. 



The 25th was given to a visit to the numerous islands of the famous 

 Delta region. About one hundred persons boarded the steamer at 

 9.30 a.m., including Dr. S. Appel of the University of Berlin and 

 Johana Westerdyk, of the Phytopathological Laboratory of Holland, 

 and four experts from our United States Department of Agriculture. 

 The humus-laden soil, luxuriant vegetation of the Delta, and the 

 wondrous system of irrigation w^ere universally admired and com- 

 mended. There was no attempt to cover up defects, but we were shown 

 the faulty rotation, so short, only two years; the numerous volunteers, 

 resulting from omission to pack up the scattered small potatoes, the 

 worst examples of wilt fungus, Rhizoctonia, tuber moth and eelworm, 

 the common practice of exposing such potatoes, and using diseased 

 tubers for seed. The lectures, with demonstrations by such experts as 

 Dr. Appel, Dr. Westerdyk, Dr. Orton, Prof. Stewart, Mr. Shear of the 

 United States Department of Agriculture, and County Horticultural 

 Commissioner Garden, were eagerly listened to by all present. The 

 lunch and many delightful conferences on the boat were greatly 

 appreciated. 



Dr. Cook's Address. 



The evening meeting, held in the court house, was opened by Col. 

 John P. Irish, w^ho introduced the chairman. State Horticultural Com- 

 missioner A. J. Cook. Dr. Cook commented upon the superiority of the 

 potato as an article of food, the excellence of the Delta product, and 

 the natural adaptation of these islands to the growth and development 

 of this vegetable. He said that anything! which had a bad effect on 

 the prosperity of the potato industry of California would be a menace 

 to the welfare of this State. 



Too much stress, he said, can not be laid upon the importance of good 

 seed. In the case of potatoes, as with all vegetables, grains, etc., the 

 seed should be carefully selected. It should be from hills that produce 

 numerous tubers of desirable size. Only perfectly smooth and sound 

 potatoes were fit for seed. The observance of these suggestions would 

 greatly aid in eliminating scab and other fungous troubles, as well as 

 eelworm and tuber moth. Caution in the selection of seed has been 

 known to advance the yield more than 30 per cent. It would always 

 pay well to reject all imperfect seed, and to treat the seed with a fungi- 

 cide as a further precautionary measure. 



Rotation. 



He stated that rotation of crops — like seed selection — was exceedingly 

 important ; that each grower should study with a view to ascertaining 

 what crops are adapted to his soil conditions, and select only those crops 

 which would pay and which would aid in freeing his soil from insect, 

 fungoid and weed pests. He referred to the fungous troubles which 

 have laid a heavy hand on the potato industry : The ugly scab, the too 

 common little potato (Rhizoctonia), and the wilt fungus {Fusarium 

 oxysporum) . If the soil and seed were clean there would be no trouble 

 from diseases of this class. 



