Diseases 



Primarily, we should know something of the potato plant. It con- 

 sists of foliage, stems and underground roots and stems. The roots 

 usually grow deep, if the seed-bed is made right, and secure the moisture 

 and part of the plant food which goes to make up the top as well as the 

 tuber. The foliage secures a part of the plant food from the air. The 

 leaves are the lungs of the plant. These little delicate lungs breathe in 

 the carbon dioxide; hence, it is plain that in order to secure a rapid and 

 healthy growth and to provide the plant both above and below ground 

 with an abundance of the elements from the atmosphere, the leaves 

 should be strong and healthy. If because of any reason they are dis- 

 eased or infested with insects, or if because the soil does not contain a 

 sufficient amount of nitrogen, the stems and leaves are diminutive *and 

 unhealthy, the entire plant suffers as a result; hence, the farmer should 

 guard against this contingency by first furnishing an abundance of 

 nitrogen, and, second, treating the foliage with the right kind of spray. 

 Probably the best material for diseased leaves and tops is Bordeaux 

 mixture, which is made as follows : 



Copper Sulphate (Blue Vitriol) 4 pounds 



Fresh Lime 5 " 



Water 50 Gallons 



When this mixture is used thoroughly and as often as conditions 

 demand, the yield is always increased and often doubled. 



Scab, rot and other diseases of potatoes are best prevented by soaking 

 the seed for two hours in a solution of formaline, one pound to thirty 

 gallons of water. Place the potatoes in a gunny sack and suspend in 

 the solution. If they are not planted at once, they should be spread out 

 to dry. If left in the sacks or placed in a pile while wet they are apt to 

 heat and lose their germinating power. It is of little use, however, to 

 treat potatoes and then plant them in diseased soil. It is known that 

 germs of potato diseases will remain in the soil five or six years. In this 

 connection it should be known that after a potato is cut, the sooner it is 

 planted, the better. If permitted to lie for a day or two, or even a num- 

 ber of hours, germination will be extremely slow, for the reason that a 

 part of the vitality is wasted through the process of drying. 



Planting 



Potatoes should not be planted until the soil is warm and all danger of 

 frost is past. If they are placed in cold, damp ground, they are very 

 apt to rot. If the ground is rich in humus and warm, germination takes 

 place rapidly and the initial growth is strong. 



Method of Planting 



The potato planter gives by far the best results. The depth is uni- 



