58 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



showed that the potatoes dried out much less when sulphur was used, 

 and as a result a quicker and larger growth was obtained. 



Other experiments showed that kainithas some fungicidal value, and 

 it is thought probable that a mixture of kainit and sulphur at the rate 

 of 300 lbs. each to the acre would give a valuable fungicide and fertil- 

 izer for use on scab-infested land. 



A brief report is made on one plat of potatoes grown where previously 

 badly club-rooted turnips had been produced. A large total weight of 

 tubers was secured, but the percentage of scab was unusually high. In 

 this case potatoes had not been planted on this soil for at least 6 years, 

 and the crop was practically worthless. 



Experiments with soil treatment for the prevention of diseases of 

 sweet potatoes are reported. In these experiments sweet potatoes 

 were grown for a third successive crop on the land, the object being to 

 determine the lasting effect of the various substances which had been 

 applied the previous years. The stand of plants was the lowest where 

 lime was used at the rate of 1,000 bu. per acre aud was but little better 

 where 500 bu. of lime combined with 1.250 lbs. of sulphur was used. 

 Lime alone at the rate of 250 bu. per acre reduced the stand of plants 

 but little, and sulphur had no material effect in this respect. It appears 

 from the results obtained that lime is not a preventive of soil rot and 

 that of the various substances which have been tested, viz, lime, sul- 

 phur, manure, corrosive sublimate, kainit, and copper sulphate, sulphur 

 is the best remedy for the disease. 



An additional set of experiments is reported in which sulphur was 

 applied in the row before setting the plants, in amounts ranging from 

 50 to 400 lbs. per acre. The tabulated results show that the yield of 

 cleau roots increased with the amount of sulphur used. The sulphur 

 used in this series of experiments, which was quite widely conducted, 

 cost a maximum rate of v 1 per acre, and the author figures a net profit 

 due to its use of from $23.50 to $63 per acre. 



An experiment was conducted in which sulphur in amounts varying 

 from 50 lbs. to 100 lbs. per acre was placed near the plants. It was 

 mixed with several times its own bulk of soil and placed in the hole 

 where the plant was to be set. While the yield in this experiment was 

 not large, the amount of soil rot in the checks was very great, three 

 check plats together not producing as many clean potatoes as one of 

 the treated plats. 



The author summarizes his experiments and suggests that for potato 

 scab corrosive sublimate when added to the soil is effective, but the 

 mere soaking of the seed in the solution is without effect. When the 

 soil is infested, kainit is shown to have considerable fungicidal value, 

 and sulphur has maintained its place as one of the best remedies for 

 scab. Sulphur surpassed all others in checking soil rot and kainit 

 stood second as worthy of further trial. Sulphur when applied with a 

 fertilizer drill in the open row at the rate of 300 lbs. per acre gave 





