118 GROW YOUR OWN VEGETABLES 



when rows of cabbages or other edible greens 

 are growing between the lines of potatoes. 



Since it has been shown that blight is carried on from 

 season to season through affected tubers, it is most 

 important that only those which are free from disease 

 should be selected for seed. At planting time the " seed ' ' 

 should be examined and all showing the least sign of 

 disease rejected. When conditions allow, it is preferable 

 to sprout the " seed " in boxes, as suggested above. 

 The use of such sprouted seed has been found to result 

 in an increase of about two tons per acre in the crop. 

 Steeping the " seed " in a solution of copper sulphate 

 or other fungicide with a view to killing the fungus is of 

 no practical value in preventing the disease and is likely 

 to damage the seed tubers. 



Blight is but one of the diseases which the potato 

 grower must combat. The others, though they are 

 often of a highly destructive character, are found with 

 less frequency and, accordingly, space cannot be devoted 

 to describing them in this work. The reader who desires 

 information regarding them is referred to the following 

 Board of Agriculture leaflets : 



Leaflet 105. Wart Disease.* 



117. Black Leg. 



127. Stalk Disease. 



137. Scab. 



193. Winter Rot of Potatoes. 



., 197. Dry Rot or Winter Rot. 



232. Corky Scab. 



* Allotment-holders are constantly told that the police regulation s 

 require them to notify the presence of potato disease on their plots. 

 Blight is not a notifiable disease, but wart disease or black scab is, 

 and must be duly reported. 



