246 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



ELI BALING PRESSES. 



When a man starts in at hay baling, he is anxious 

 to have things move right along, without interruption 

 or breakage or other delay. The baling press is just as 

 important as any other piece of machinery used on the 

 farm. As we look at it, you will be just as sure, perhaps 

 more sure, of having the baling go on uninterruptedly 

 if you buy the well known Eli press, as with any press 

 you can find. 



The Eli is an old timer. Most all hay balers know 

 it by name, and by its work. The name "Eli" is not 

 just one press, but it is the name applied to the long 

 line of presses 38 styles and sizes which have been 

 developed through many years of hay press building by 

 tlie Collins Plow Company, Quincy, 111. Hardly any- 

 thing in the way of a press could be thought of which 

 will not be found already worked out in its best form 

 by that company. The first thing to do, if studying 

 the "hay press question, is to write to the Collins Plow 

 Company for catalogue and make careful examination of 

 the Eli family. If you want a press of great power and 

 speed, the Eli Power Press will take your eye. It does 

 the work with a speed and a nicety that delights the 

 hay man. It is a completely modern machine, with all 

 improved appliances, and everything to facilitate and 

 make the work easy. 



The continuous travel horse press is just as much 

 of a favorite in its class. If you are not engaged in 

 doing contract baling, this style will perhaps be best 

 adapted to your needs. A. catalogue giving all particu- 

 lars of the entire Eli line will be mailed free to any one 

 writing for it. 



*^**^ 



y 



Potato Culture 



BY L. A. ASPINWALL. 



[Concluded.] 



Unlike blight, they thrive best in warm dry 

 weather. Although blight has been known for more 

 than sixty years, much has been developed during the 

 last decade relative to its nature and methods of treat- 

 ing the disease. There are two forms, the leaf or early 

 blight, and the late blight or rot. The early blight 

 (Alternaria Solani) appears upon the leaves in grayish 

 brown spots about the time the tubers begin to form. 

 These spots enlarge, and in about ten days or two 

 weeks involve half of the leaf, which in a month may 

 be entirely consumed. The late blight, or rot (Phyto- 

 phthora Infestwus), appears later in the season. The 

 leaves show brown or black areas, which soon involve 

 the entire plant, and, under favorable conditions of 

 extreme heat and moisture, seriously affect the tubers. 

 As with pear tree blight, the ravages begin with a fun- 

 goid growth which feed upon the leaves and branches. 

 These destructive germs, in common with many others. 

 are not destroyed by the rigor of winter. With the 

 decay of diseased potato vines, the germ's or spores are 

 gradually mixed with the soil, where they remain until 



the return of warm weather with plant life adapted to 

 their development, when the disease again manifests 

 itself. No information explaining how the germs gain 

 ascendency to the vines has come under the writer's 

 observation. He would suggest, however, that being 

 diffused through the soil, the spores become attached 

 to the tender sprouts of "the potato (which being suit- 

 able for their development), and with their rapid 



Figure 9. FOLIAGE SHOWING BLIGHT. 



growth are carried above the ground. The rapid de- 

 velopment of young potato vines accompanied by a 

 moderately low temperature prevents the disease from 

 gaining ascendency at once. But with vines nearly or 

 full grown, and a temperature ranging from 70 up- 

 ward (favorable to germ, development), the conditions 



Figure 10. HORSE SPRAYER. 



are reservsed. Instead of an increasing supply of 

 food, with a temperature unfavorable to germ develop- 

 ment, we find the growth or food supply decreasing, 

 which, with a favorable temperature for a spread of .the 

 disease naturally results in a rapid destruction of the 

 vines. We can now see the importance of early spraying. 

 With no visible appearance of blight, the tendency is to 

 neglect the precaution. This leads us to consider the 

 best mode of treatment. Paris Green being a neces- 

 sity in the destruction of potato bug larvae, the applica- 

 tion of -Bordeaux Mixture for blight may also be made 

 at the same time by mixing the two. Although the dis- 

 ease cannot be entirely overcome, early spraying with 



Send $2*50 for The Irrigation 



Age one year and 

 The Primer of Irrigation 



