256 THE POTATO 



more in the way of breeding new types and growing 

 more seed potatoes, and selling and exporting more, 

 than any other firm in the world. 



"Mr. Lasham showed us samples of potatoes in 

 the various stages of black scab disease. When I 

 looked at the potato and then when they were cut 

 open it made me shudder with horror. Mr. Las- 

 ham considers it more damaging and far reach- 

 ing in its results to the potato industry than any- 

 thing of its kind that has ever appeared. He 

 says it takes eight years of grass crops to eradicate 

 it from the soils when the fungus once invades it. 



"Mr. Rogers of the Department of Agriculture 

 in London says they do not regard it as very seri- 

 ous, as it is not breeding very rapidly, but calls 

 the attention of the potato growers in the bulle- 

 tins of the Department of Agriculture of Great 

 Britain to the heavy penalties for not reporting it 

 to the Department. There are penalties for ship- 

 ping any such diseased potatoes, however. Mr. 

 Rogers admits that they have it in Newfoundland, 

 and that it is developing quite rapidly the last 

 year or two in Germany, Belgium, Roumania, 

 Hungary, and other potato districts of Europe. 

 A few instances are known in Scotland, but it is 

 the worst in Wales. 



"Mr. Rogers very kindly invited me to go with 

 their experts throughout the infected districts 

 during the month of August, when the disease 

 makes its greatest development. 



"In my judgment it has not been given very 

 wide publicity in Europe, as it would endanger the 

 export trade. I believe the disease is much more 

 malignant than we have a knowledge of, and that 

 it will be a greater menace to the American farmer if 

 once established in the United States or on the 



