126 Notes on Insect, Fungus and other Pests [may, 



ago. The disease appeared on Evergood potatoes, which 

 were apparently quite clean when harvested, but in April 

 they had so deteriorated that they fetched a very low price. 

 As stated in the Kew Bulletin, the injury is confined to the 

 tubers, and no indication of its presence is suggested by the 

 foliage, which remains unaffected. The disease is revealed 

 by the occurrence of blackish-olive or blackish-violet patches, 

 which soon become depressed below the general surface of 

 the tuber, due to drying and breaking up of tissue. Very 

 frequently only one or two such sunken areas, which vary 

 from half an inch to an inch across, are present on a tuber. 

 Portions of the skin readily peel off in flakes, and if these 

 remain in the soil they are a source of danger to future crops. 

 But although only a part of the potato appears to be dis- 

 eased, it is certain from the way the fungus appears that 

 parts that seem free are affected. It is, therefore, most 

 dangerous to use or set any potatoes that show any signs 

 of being affected. Professor Johnson, who first recorded the 

 presence of the disease in Ireland, made some attempt to find 

 out whether by soaking the tubers for an hour in a solution 

 of formalin (o'8 per cent.) the disease could be eradicated. 

 The result was apparently successful (Economic Proceedings 

 of the Royal Dublin Society, Vol. I., Part V., No. 6). 

 At the same time, he demonstrated the importance of pre- 

 ventive measures by showing that perfectly healthy potatoes 

 brought from France and planted in a district where disease 

 is common became infected at once. An account of the 

 disease and its appearance in Germany is given in Frank's 

 "Kampfbuch gegen die Schadlinge unserer Feldfruchte." 



Grease-banding for Winter Moth. — Reports have reached 

 the Board that grease-banding for winter moth is increasing 

 in popularity in many parts of England, but from time to 

 time complaints are made that the bark of certain trees is 

 affected injuriously by the practice. An instance where such 

 a complaint was made has recently been investigated by one 

 of the Board's Inspectors. He found some trees on which 

 the grease had run right down to the ground, a distance 

 of two or three feet, while the bands themselves were quite 

 rotten. Some trees had been recently greased again, and it 

 was stated that £3 per cwt. had been paid for the grease, 



