214 



Prevention of Wart Disease. 



[JUNE, 



deal was compiled, and information was also obtained as to the 

 varieties of potatoes cliiefl}^ grown in the county. This infor- 

 mation, no doubt, will prove of great assistance in future 

 seasons. 



As a result of these inquiries, it was ascertained that in very 

 few cases did farmers deal directly with Scotland. Most fre- 

 quently they obtained the " seed " through a local merchant. 

 It was shown that most of the merchants interviewed had not 

 complied with the Order, nor had the Scotch merchant, except 

 in a few instances, voluntarily offered to supply the certificate 

 and declaration, and in all cases the excuse offered by English 

 merchants was total ignorance of the Order. The Ministry's 

 representative pointed out that the variety " Arran Chief " 

 was, more than any other, susceptible to wart disease, and that 

 extra care should be exercised in obtaining this variety from 

 Scotland. Many interesting particulars were also obtained 

 as to the relative popularity of varieties. For First Earhes, 

 " Eclipse " is by far the most popular. Among the Second, 

 " British Oueen " takes first place, and among Main Crops, 

 King Edv/ard " leads easily. King Edward " and 

 Evergood " comprise at least 50 per cent, of the Main Crops 

 grown in the county. Among immune varieties " Majestic " 

 appears to be popular among the growers. " Great Scot " 

 holds the next place, while " Dargill Early " and " Arran 

 Comrade " have been taken up by a considerable number of 

 farmers in the Holland District of Lincolnshire. 



The second division of the work consisted in addressing 

 meetings of farmers in different parts of the county. At these 

 meetings, the Ministry's inspector described the disease and 

 pointed out the great danger of infection from " seed " 

 obtained from infected areas and the consequences that 

 would follow an outbreak of wart disease. The lecturer 

 also explained the Wart Disease of Potatoes (Scottish Seed 

 Potatoes) Order, 19 19, and all other regulations bearing 

 upon the disease. He described the chief immune varieties 

 of potatoes, and mentioned to seed growers the advantages 

 to be derived from the Ministry's free inspection of- 

 their growing crops. At the conclusion of several of the 

 meetings resolutions were passed urging the Ministry of Agri- 

 culture to bring in any further regulations it considered neces- 

 sary in order to safeguard the county against risk of infection 

 from seed potatoes obtained from Scotland. 



^ 4: >K H« ^ 



