78o 



ADDENDUM 



white-fleshed, h'ght cropping, tapering, Kidney variety of the 

 very best quality. Will crop well if the seed is sprouted and 

 planted in well-cultivated loam and given a long season of growth. 

 Probably the best-keeping potato known, and if kept till after 

 Christmas probably the best eating. 



Any of the above may safely be grown in infected soil with 

 good prospects of success, and growers should endeavour to 

 become familiar with the fitness of these sorts to local conditions, 

 even if they are not yet troubled with this serious disease of the 

 Potato. It is just possible that the raising of seedlings may in 

 time check this terrible pest. 



Potatoes, Black Leg of. — From reports received by the Board 

 of Agriculture it appears that this disease is spreading in this 

 country, black leg being common in crops of King George^ Great 

 Scot, Majestic, and Ally. It is possible that these newer varieties 

 are more susceptible to this disease than those previously grown, 

 so that the parasite has increased at a more rapid rate. In the 

 year 1917 the disease was noticed in Scotland to be fairly common 

 among the crops of Potatoes, and it is possible that the more 

 extensive use of Scotch seed during the past few years has dis- 

 tributed the disease over a wider area. This disease is very 

 destructive and causes serious loss in the Potato crops. The leaves 

 wilt and turn yellow, then shrivel and die, the disease starting low 

 down on the stem, the uppermost leaves being the last to succumb. 

 When the leaves first begin to drop, the surface of the under- 

 ground part of the stem bearing such leaves is more or less 

 covered with brownish stains. This discoloration gradually 

 extends up the stem, which in the end becomes quite black and 

 very soon decays. Black patches also appear in the young tubers, 

 which if the attack is severe soon rot. As soon as any of the 

 potato plants show symptoms of this disease they ought at once 

 to be dug up and thrown on the fire heap. 



Tomatoes, Black Spot in. — This, known as Cladosporium 

 fulvuin, is a fungus which germinates soonest in moisture. In 

 the morning, any moisture that may be accumulated through 

 vapour rising from the soil during the night, becomes condensed 

 on the fruits, and invariably finds its way to the lowest part of 

 the fruit. Of itself, the moisture would do no harm were there 

 no spores of the fungus in the house. The spores, however, 

 settling on the fruit get washed down by the moisture to the 

 apex of the fruit, and at once become active, penetrating through 

 the tiny orifice left by the decaying bloom. Then it begins to 

 spread, and preys upon the flesh, causing it to become black. 

 Once the spot is seen on the fruits, a cure, so far as the affected 

 fruits are concerned, is out of the question. All such affected 

 fruits should at once be removed, and thrown on the fire. The 



