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by seed treatment, that the practice has become uni- 

 versal with all growers who pretend to be progres- 

 sive. 



During the last few years a new disease of the po- 

 tato has made its appearance and has already be- 

 come seriously troublesome in many sections. This 

 is a Fusarium disease, becoming apparent when the 

 potatoes are perhaps a foot high or thereabouts. A 

 dull, unhealthy appearance of the foliage results, fol- 

 lowed by a rolling or curling of the margins of the 

 leaves. The disease progresses rapidly, causing 

 the tops to fall and ripen prematurely. The trouble 

 extends downward through the stems and fre- 



A MODERN POTATO DIGGER 



quently into the tubers. A thin slice across the 

 stem end of the tuber often reveals the presence 

 of this trouble by the brown stain and streaks easily 

 visible. Special care should be taken in selecting 

 the seed to see that it is free from this infection. 

 The disease comes to us from European countries, 

 probably by the way of Canada where it has caused 

 enormous losses. Collecting and burning the tops 

 after digging will diminish the disease, and make 

 rotation (the principal remedy) more effective. 



