Vlll 



Preface 



the money losses. But as an example, the following 

 figures, kindly given to the writer by Professor R. P. 

 Haskell, Pathological Inspector of the United States 

 Department of Agriculture, will be of compelling 

 interest. 



"Potato Diseases. It is estimated that the State 

 of New York lost in 191 5, principally from late 

 blight, about $20,000,000. This outbreak was wide- 

 spread in the northern States and reduced the yields 

 as shown below, in comparison with 1914. Other 

 conditions than disease were relatively equal : 



Maine 



New Hampshire 



Vermont 



New York 



Pennsylvania 



Michigan 



Wisconsin 



10,000,000 bu 

 1,200,000 

 1 ,600,000 



30,000,000 

 8,000,000 



23,000,000 



11,700,000 



"It is estimated that the market value of the 

 potato crop in Aroostock County, Maine, in 191 5 

 was reduced about 10%, or $1,078,000, on account of 

 the occurrence of the powdery scab disease. In 

 some sections the reduction amounted to as much 

 as 50%. 



' It is estimated that 50% of the potato crop in 

 Idaho was injured by diseases last year and from 10% 

 to 20% rendered wholly unsalable. The total an- 

 nual loss in this State is estimated at $196,000. 



"Sweet-Potato Diseases. It is estimated that the 

 annual loss due to sweet-potato diseases in the 



