762 Result of Experiments as to Wart Disease. [Dec, 



drops on the foliage for some time. In another case it was difficult to 

 find any but dead larvae on the plants after one thorough spraying, 

 though subsequent sprayings were necessary, as beetles came from 

 neighbouring gardens while the growing plants presented fresh, 

 unsprayed foliage for the pest to live upon. 



OFFICIAL CIRCULARS AND NOTICES. 



The Board have addressed the following circular letter, dated 

 22nd November, to occupiers of premises infected with Wart Disease : — 

 Sir, 



I am directed by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries to inform 

 you that they have for some time past been engaged in investigating the 

 nature of the potato disease, known as Wart 

 Result of Experiments Disease, Black Scab, Cauliflower disease, etc., 

 as to Wart Disease, which was present in your potatoes this year, 

 and they have endeavoured to discover some 

 remedy. As you are no doubt anxious to avoid a repetition of the 

 disease among your potatoes, I am directed to send you the following 

 information. 



Experiments on Wart Disease were carried out on behalf of the 

 Board by the staff of the Education Committee of the Lancashire County 

 Council, of the Harper Adams Agricultural College, Shropshire, and of 

 the Holmes Chapel Agricultural College, Cheshire. The experiments 

 were made on infected land at five places. In each experiment tests 

 were made (1) on the effect of possible remedies; (2) on a number of 

 varieties of potato, in order to ascertain whether they did or did not 

 contract disease. 



Three possible remedies, viz., Sulphur, Quicklime, and Soot were 

 applied, but in every case they failed. No one of them prevented the 

 crop from being badly diseased. Sulphur was also tried on many 

 allotments and gardens, but in nearly every case without success. It 

 is possible that in another season better results might be obtained, but 

 it is clear from the experience of 1909 that when ground is infected, 

 the use of sulphur, lime, or soot cannot be relied upon to save potatoes 

 from Wart Disease. 



The trials with varieties were more successful. The following sorts 

 were tested and were found to be attacked by Wart Disease : — 

 Up-to-date, Northern Star, King Edward VII., Eldorado, Royal Kidney, 

 British Queen, Talisman, Epicure, Sharpe's Express, May Queen, 

 Ninetyfold. All were badly affected, though some were worse than 

 others. 



The following sorts were tested and were found to be not attacked 

 by Wart Disease : — Langworthy, What's Wanted, Golden Wonder, 

 Sutton's Abundance, Findlay's Conquest and (?) Snowdrop. 



Snowdrop was not grown at all the centres. It was found that 

 the stock of this potato was not true, a kidney form (probably true 

 stock) was quite free from disease, but an oval form was diseased. In 

 many cases information has reached the Board that Snowdrop is free 

 from Wart Disease, and in other cases disease has been reported. This 

 variety should therefore be regarded with suspicion. True stocks are 



