54 8 



Wart Disease of Potatoes. 



[OCT., 



The Board of Agriculture and Fisheries desire to notify that 244 cases of Wart 

 Diseases or Black Scab in this year's potato crop had been reported to them up 

 to 3rd October. These cases have occured in the 

 Wart Disease Or following counties — Shropshire, 60 ; Staffordshire, 57 ; 

 "Di b- c V* f Lancashire, 50; Warwickshire, 25; Cheshire, 30; 

 otau 0 Worcestershire and Leicestershire, 4 each ; Derbyshire, 3 ; 



Potatoes. Merionethshire, 2 ; and 1 each in Perthshire, Stirling- 



shire, Dumfriesshire, Cumberland, Nottingham, Berk- 

 shire, Flintshire, Breconshire and Glamorgan. A few cases among field crops have 

 been found in the counties in which the disease is most common, but in the great 

 majority of cases, the disease has occurred in allotments or in gardens in which 

 potatoes are constantly grown. 



Enquiries made by the Board lead them to think that Wart Disease is very 

 common in gardens in five, at least, of the above named counties. The disease 

 has been known in certain districts for 10 — 15 years, and as growers, have taken 

 no steps to check its progress it is now causing serious loss. As Wart Disease may 

 be carried from place to place in infected tubers, it is important to secure "seed" 

 potatoes free from this disease. At the same time the greater number of cases 

 reported would appear to be due to the cultivation of potatoes in soil previously 

 infected, or to the use of manure containing refuse from a diseased crop, and in many 

 instances the seed has been viewed with quite unjustifiable suspicion. It should be 

 remembered that even in counties in which Wart Disease is common, it has not yet 

 seriously affected field crops, and the percentage of diseased potatoes offered for 

 " seed " must be inconsiderable. 



All cases of Wart Disease must be notified to the Secretary, Board of Agriculture 

 and Fisheries, 4, Whitehall Place, London, S.W. Persons notifying the disease will 

 receive directions as to its treatment. It is believed that under careful treatment 

 this disease can be eradicated, but if neglected it may render the soil unfit for potato 

 growing. 



In the case of farmers who sell "seed" potatoes, notification of the disease 

 is of especial importance, and failure to notify must be regarded as a serious offence. 

 The Board desire to draw the attention of all " seed " growers to the provisions of an 

 Order issued under the Destructive Insects and Pests Acts, 1877 — 1907, which render 

 persons concealing Wart Disease liable to prosecution and to a penalty of £10. 



In addition to the names already mentioned, Wart Disease is locally known as 

 Cauliflower Disease, "Fungus," and Canker. 



In consequence of the discovery of American Gooseberry Mildew in Shropshire the 

 Board of Agriculture and Fisheries have made an Order which came into operation 

 on the 10th of October, 1908, and applied to the County 

 The American GOOSe- of Shropshire. The Order is on very similar lines to the 

 berry Mildew Orders applied to other counties where American Goose- 

 /Ch \ a j berry Mildew has appeared, of which a summary was 



(Shropshire) Order given in this j ourna ^ January, 1908, P . 624. 

 of 1908. 



The Irish Department of Agriculture, in view of the fact that Black Scab in 

 Potatoes is not known to exist in Ireland, has issued an Order making it compulsory 

 on every person having potatoes affected with disease to 

 Black Scab in notify the fact to the Department. It also prohibits under 



Potatoes (Ireland) ^ * ° f 



Order Of 1908. x n connection with this Order, the Irish Department 



suggests that seed potatoes should not be purchased from 

 Great Britain unless the vendors are prepared to give a guarantee that Black Scab was 

 not known to exist on the farms on which the potatoes were grown. 



