148 



The matter of getting a free circulation about the 

 plants is a very important one, as it is highly necessary 

 to keep the plants dry. If the plants are absolutely 

 free from outside moisture, disease cannot establish 

 itself in them, consequently the greater freedom from 

 wet conduces to keep them healthy. This points to 

 the necessity of keeping the land free from weeds, as 

 when there is a mass of them about the plants there is 

 little chance for them to dry ; in fact, no matter how 

 fine the weather, the weeds about the bottoms of the 

 stems almost always contain moisture. 



After-Disease. 



The fact that tubers are easily struck with disease 

 must not be forgotten at the time the crop is dug. If 

 the disease is still rampant in the top so that conidia 

 are being given off, the freshly dug tubers are very 

 liable to be attacked ; in fact, to this and to the 

 mycelium already in them, is due the " after-rot,'* 

 which takes place in the clamp or pit after they are 

 stored. For this reason potatoes are best dug in fine 

 drying weather, so that the moisture, which is 

 necessary for the development of the disease, may be 

 quickly evaporated ; and it indicates that fermentation 

 in the pit should be avoided as much as possible, as- 

 the heat and moisture thus generated afford favourable 

 conditions for the establishment of the disease. 



Destroying Haulm to check Disease. 



It has been recommended that the haulm should be 



