73 



§ 



Journal oj Agricidinre. 



[lo Nov., 1909. 



the latter part of 1905 specimens were sent from a Gippsland district. 

 These were brought under the notice of the Vegetable Pathologist, Mr. 

 McAlpine. who failed to discover anv trace of disease in the tubers. 

 During 1906-7 parcels were submitted with the same result. 



This finding accords with observations in other parts of the world. 

 Jt has been ascril>ed to degeneration, due to using the same seed in the 

 same soil for long jjeriods. Whilst this mav be a contributing c.uise. 

 there are evidenth' others at work, for I have crown the same \arietv 



TUBERS FROM PLANTS AFFECTED WITH SPINDLE DISEASE. 



from the same seed for 25 \ears continuouslx in the same .soil and iK)t 

 found them affected, whilst the same seed sent to another district wuuld 

 in two seasons be almost u.seless for seed purpo.ses. Observation of the 

 growing crop has. enabled me to detect, with a degree of certaint\-, the 

 plants which will produce blind and defective tubers. The illustrations on 

 this page show' the results obtained from a parcel lifted in May, 1907, 

 and planted on the 30th September of the same \ ear. The tubers from the 

 aft'ected plants were either blind or defective. Another of our illustra- 



'> 



TUBERS FROM NORMAL PLAiXTS. 



tions shows the condition of an average sample taken from a parcel 

 amounting to upwards of 10 (>\vt., lifted in Februarv, 1909. Of these, 

 150 average .sets were placed in trays and by the 1st July nnlv two 

 ful>ers had sent out a strong bud. 



• If future observations fail to re\eal an\ form of disease, or no 

 remedy can be discovered, it will be a decided gain to growers to be able 

 to harvest such plants and dispose of them for table use, instead of having 

 to discard them at planting time when the seed is si)iouted. 



