1921.] 



Potato Disease (Blight) in 1920. 



1147 



and conflicting reports, more especially as to the scorching of 

 haulms, and the fact that it was difficult to get machines and 

 materials, very few allotment holders sprayed at all. When 

 spraying was carried out on allotments it appeared successful, 

 but owing to the absence of 1 ' controls ' ' the freedom from blight 

 may have been due to other causes. Against this may be set 

 the fact that many cases of success were noted by Inspectors 

 where there were " controls " or adjoining fields for comparison. 



In Bedfordshire, in a field of potatoes which had been sprayed 

 twice, the haulms were green long after those of the 

 unspraved crops of neighbouring farms had died down. It is 

 worth mentioning that in this county, dry spraying is said to 

 be successful, although if water is readily available, a wet spray 

 seems to give slightly better results. Good results were noted 

 in Lincolnshire where a large number of growers spray, and 

 they find that increased crops result. In Kent also, the 

 spraying of potatoes is largely practised by farmers, and here 

 again, sprayed fields remain green much longer than unspraved 

 fields and give a bigger and cleaner crop. Unspraved haulms 

 were reported to have gone off as early as the first week in 

 August. A fair amount of spraying is done in East Sussex, and 

 approximately 25 per cent- of the farmers are said to spray 

 their potatoes. The illustration of a field of potatoes in Peven- 

 sey, taken about the end of September last, shows the bare 

 stems in the unspraved portion of the field, and the green haulms 

 in the other part of the field which had been sprayed twice. 



There is need for attention to be given in the South Western 

 districts, which are particularly liable to blight, to the selec- 

 tion of varieties more or less resistant. Notwithstanding repeated 

 statements that blight-free varieties exist, no variety has yet 

 been discovered which is immune from this disease. There 

 is. however, a varying resistance under ordinary conditions of 

 which more use might be made. It is well known that Up-to- 

 Date and British Queen are particularly susceptible, and in 

 1020 Duke of York was reported as taking Blight badly in 

 Lincolnshire. On the other hand, the President type (President, 

 Iron Duke. Scottish Farmer), Northern Star type (Northern 

 Star. Allies. Ajax), Eversfood. Kerr's Pink. Templar. Arran 

 Yicforv, Irish Chieftain. Golden Wonder, Champion. Flourball 

 and Shamrock, all show more or less resistance to this disease, 

 and where suitable should be planted. In cases wh^re the =oil is 

 h Q avy and wet. second earlies such as Grpat Scot. Royal Kidney. 

 Ally. Sec. should be planted so that they can be lifted and 

 clamped dry before the autumn rains set in. 



