lo Nov., 1909.] Irish Potato Blight and its Treatment. 7^3 



so that if the earth is banked up about the stems and the 

 topmost tubers covered to a depth of alx>ut 4 inches, they will 

 escape. While there is less liability to disease under these 

 conditions, it is found that there is a lessened yield, so that 

 this method has not been largely availed of. 



The presence of Irish Blight in our midst should have the effect of 

 directing attention to the necessit\ for more intelligent and more effective 

 cultivation and clean working of the potato, since other solanaceous plants, 

 including the tomato, may harbor the fungus. The seed should be care- 

 fully selected and properly stored, and spraying should become one of the 

 regular operations of the farm. The manurial requirements of the plant 

 should also be attended to. and the fact recognised that potash in a readily 

 available form is essential to the healthy growth of the potato. 



Recommendations. 



In order to prevent the introduction of the disease into districts already 

 free from it, the following recommendations are made:- — 



Only clean seed should be planted, obtained from districts where Irish 

 Blight is not known to exist, and all seed potatoes should be carried in 

 new bags. 



Since the seed may appear sound, and yet harbor the disease on the 

 surface, it should be disinfected by means of formalin solution, with or 

 Avithout previous washing. 



Cut seed should be used, tecause it is the only sure method of detect- 

 ing blemishes, and any seed not absolutely clean on cutting should be 

 boiled or burned. 



A system of rotation should be adopted, \vhereb\ iX)tatoes would not 

 be planted in the same ground oftener than once in four years. 



Spraying with Bordeaux mixture or copper soda should be carried out 

 when the plants are about 6 inches high, particularly if the growing season 

 is a moist one, and again when they are in bloom, but intermediate spray- 

 ings may be necessary at intervals of a fortnight. As a rule, three spray- 

 ings are all that are necessary, if the first one is given early enough. 



ARTIFICIAL MANURES. 



Notice to Manufacturers and Importers. 



It is requested that all manufacturers and importers of artificial manures 

 shall submit to the Chemist for Agriculture, Public Offices, Melbourne, 

 prior to 30th November, samples of all fertilizers which they intend to 

 sell under the provisions of the Artificial Manures Acts 1904 and 1905 

 ■during the coming season. 



