112 POTATO CULTURE. 



to the new field. We watch the outside on such days. They 

 always alight near the edge. Three or four times a day we 

 run over the outside rows. 



The Blight. 



We have not had very much trouble in this line. But we 

 raise early potatoes as a rule. Once, many years ago, we 

 practically lost our late crop in this way, while early ones 

 yielded some 240 bushels per acre the same year. Within 

 the last few years it has been found by our experiment sta- 

 tions that spraying with what is called the Bordeaux mixture 

 will prevent injury from blight, more or less. Prof. Goff 

 says this blight is not the same disease that causes rot at all. 

 I am inclined to think this blight has been present more or 

 less for many years, but is on the increase lately in potato- 

 sections. It is simply a blight, or rust, that attacks the foli- 

 age and causes it to die before its time. Unless one noticed 

 carefully, he would think the potatoes had ripened, perhaps. 

 Our early potatoes may die in 75 to 100 days from the time of 

 planting. When they grow the full time the crop is much 

 increased ; 10 or 20 days cut off at the last end diminishes 

 the yield decidedly. We do not, however, have weather 

 suitable for this trouble to thrive in until near the end of the 

 season, for early-planted early potatoes. From what we 

 know now, if I grew late potatoes I would spray them every 

 time. It is a question whether it will pay on our early ones. 

 I asked Prof. Green, of our station, last year, what he 

 thought about it, and he doubted whether it would pay me 

 to spray. And still I am inclined to try it this year. If I 

 can keep my potatoes green a week longer, I believe it will 

 pay. Prof . Goff gave us the figures at the "potato insti- 

 tute," on the cost. He thought $5.00 an acre would cover it, 

 about half for material and half for labor. Spray three or 

 four times, beginning when plants are about six inches high, 

 and spraying once in two weeks, or of tener if it rains very 

 hard. Prof. Goff says the Bordeaux mixture of itself will 



