X... I.] MODERN POTATO CULTURE. 



be thoroughly distributed. It follows, therefore, that of 

 two equally pure greens, the one that is in the finer powder 

 will prove the more effective. In our cxperienec there is 

 greater danger of purchasing imperfectly pulverized than 

 adulterated Paris green. 



Blight — Rust. 

 There are a number of fungous diseases to which the 

 potato is subject which affect the foliage and annually cause 

 large losses to the grower. Two of these so-called blights 

 are very prevalent in Xew England, and there is no year 

 but what they do much damage and in some seasons com- 

 pletely ruin the crop over large districts. There is no 

 subject relating to potato culture which is now of so much 

 importance as the blights to which this plant is liable. 

 There is very little doubt that these enemies have come to 

 stay, and that, while in certain seasons and localities their 

 ravages may be less than others, they are diseases which 

 must be yearly taken into account in order to insure the 

 success of the potato crop. There are two kinds of blight, 

 the early and the late. It is difficult to decide which does 

 the most damage, although they work in quite different 

 ways. The early blight kills the tops and stops the growth 

 of the tuber. The late blight not only kills the tops but 

 causes the tubers to decay. 



Early Blight or Potato Leaf Blight (Altemaria solani) . 



This disease is wide spread and causes great damage. As 

 the name indicates, it usually appears early in the season. 

 It is confined to the leaves and green stems, and is usually 

 first noticed about the time the tubers begin to form. Hot, 

 dry weather seems to favor its growth, and it is usually most 

 severe on dry soils. In Maine this disease is most preva- 

 lent in the more southern parts of the State, while it does 

 comparatively little damage in most seasons in Aroostook 

 County, which is the great potato section of the State. 

 There is probably no season but what it does a good deal 

 of harm in Massachusetts. It is quite possible for the early 

 blight to attack a field of potatoes and the owner not realize 



