954 



Inspection of Potato Crops DrRixo 1920. 



[Jan.» 



THE INSPECTION OF POTATO CROPS 

 DURING 1920. 



MEASUEES FOE THE CONTEOL OF DISEASE IN 

 POTATOES. 



It need hardly be stated that considerable improvement may 

 be effected in the quality of future crops if care is taken in the 

 preparation and production of seed. This is very evident in the 

 case of the potato, which in England is grown chiefly for con- 

 sumption and only secondarily for seed " purposes. For 

 consumption purposes it matters little if a small proportion of 

 the plants (" rogues ") are of a different variety from the bulk, 

 but if a crop is grown for " seed," the presence of " rogues " 

 may be of serious consequence. This is especially the case with 

 crops of immune varieties, where the presence of " rogues 

 susceptible to Wart Disease may mean a lessened crop and 

 lead to a great increase of this dangerous pest. In order to 

 remove the risk as far as possible, the Ministry, in connection 

 with its policy of only allowing the entry of immune varieties 

 of potatoes into Infected Areas, has established a system of crop 

 inspection by which certificates may be obtained by growers, 

 free of cost, if after examination their crops are found true to 

 type and free from " rogues." At present only certified 

 immune " seed " potatoes are allowed entr}^ into the Infected 

 Areas, and to comply with this regulation both the Board of 

 Agriculture for Scotland and the Department of Agriculture 

 and Technical Instruction for Ireland have undertaken the 

 inspection of crops and the issue of certificates in their respec- 

 tive countries. 



In England the inspection is carried out by the Inspectors of 

 the Horticulture Division, who are experienced in the identifica- 

 tion of the different varieties of potatoes. The inspection in 

 England this year began early in July, and continued until about 

 the end of September, when the haulms were still recognisable. 



Last year some 650 applications for the inspection of approxi- 

 mately 6,500 acres were received, but this acreage was greatly 

 increased during the present season, no less than 11,664 acres 

 being inspected in England alone. The number of applications 

 for inspection was 1,221. Of the whole area infected 10.532 

 acres were certified and 1,182 acres were rejected for various 

 reasons. As was to be expected, the bulk of the applications 

 for inspection were received from the northern counties, princi- 



