1920.] 



The Distribution of Wart Disease. 



867 



become serious in tlie South and East; the War, however, had 

 a very direct effect on the distribution, and the system of 

 transport was considerably altered. 



Effect of the War on Transport. — With the outbreak of war 

 in 1914,' and the German submarine blockade of the North Sea; 

 (so far as coastal shipping was concerned) all transference of 

 seed potatoes to England was made by rail. The cost of send- 

 ing seed by the indirect and long route from Eoss, Forfarshire, 

 Kincardine and Perth was great, and in many cases prohi- 

 bitive. Fife and the Lothians seized the opportunity to 

 develop new trade connections with the Eastern, Home, and 

 Southern counties, and it is a significant fact that the disease 

 has since spread in these areas at an alarming rate. 



In 1916, owning to the abnormal conditions prevailing, Lanca- 

 shire and Cheshire were the only districts where an average 

 crop of potatoes w^as produced. The crops in other parts of 

 Britain were so small that supplies were used up before 

 Christmas. In the following spring (1917) the Food Produc- 

 tion Campaign was started, and there was a general clamour 

 from all parts of England and Wales for potatoes of any sort 

 for planting. 



The Irish crop, having been taken and reserved for the 

 Army, was not available for the civil population. Lincolnshire 

 and Scotclj supplies were sadly deficient, so there was a general 

 demand for Lancashire potatoes from many parts of England, 

 and large supplies w^ere sent out for planting by small gardeners 

 in the recently established allotment gardens situated around 

 populous areas such as London and Bristol. 



By this combination of circumstances the spread of Wart 

 Disease in the years following 1916 was facilitated, and the 

 explanation of the rapid extension of the disease to the potato 

 districts of the Eastern, Southern and South Western parts of 

 England is to be found in the new distribution of seed potatoes 

 brought about by war conditions. 



Though conditions of the industry are rapidly improving and 

 many pre-war customs have been re-established, it does not 

 appear that the coastal shipping trade of seed potatoes has been 

 resumed. 



In 1919 inquiries in Lincolnshire showed that seed potatoes 

 were being obtained from Forfar, Edinburgh, Perth, Glasgow 

 and Stilling. In Scotland, Wart Disease is widespread in three 

 of the areas mentioned, and if this practice continues 

 experience indicates that Lincolnshire and the other Eastern 

 counties may become heavily infected within a few years. 

 (To he concluded.) 



