NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



873 



the yield was 18 bushels per acre better both when farmyard manure was 

 used and when commercial fertilisers were used alone. 



Of the numbers of varieties tried 1 Early Rose ' gives the most uniform 

 good results as to yield and earliness, while of the main crop varieties 

 ' Green Mountain ' and ' Delaware ' are recommended. The reputed 

 insecticide and fungicide called * Bug Death " has been tried, but with 

 comparatively little success. — F. J. C. 



Potato Disease, A. By Wendell Paddock (U.S.A. Exp. Stn. 

 Colorado, Bull. 92, Oct. 1904 ; illustrated). — An illustrated account of a 

 particular Potato disease, very prevalent in Colorado, appearing to grow 

 there naturally, and attacking other plants besides the Potato, both 

 cultivated and wild. 



This fungus [Gorticium vagum, B. & C, var. solani, Burt.) persists in 

 the diseased seed and affects the plant in different ways. 



The halm produced is often poor, sometimes withers prematurely ; 

 collar-rot appears in a black ring around the stem ; often no tubers are 

 produced, even when the vine succeeds in growing, and when there are 

 tubers they are frequently small, few in number, and "run-out," i.e. 

 pointed or much elongated. 



As the soil of Colorado seems to be more or less generally infected, 

 the best hope of remedy lies in careful selection of seed, hy which means a 

 disease-resisting strain may finally be produced. Strict rotation is also 

 helpful, Alfalfa two years, Potatos one or two years, and Wheat one year, 

 having been proved satisfactory. Good drainage is essential, and where 

 irrigation is practised the furrows should be deep enough to conduct the 

 water to the roots below the level at which the tubers are produced. 



C. H. C. 



Potato, Diseases Of the. By G. Massee {Gard. Mag. 2625, p. 135 ; 

 20 2 04). — An important article upon the subject by the recognised 

 authority on fungoid disease of plants. Mr. Massee describes the diseases 

 in a clear way, and suggests remedies and preventive measures. The 

 account is well illustrated. 



The article appears in what is the "Potato Number" of the Gard. 

 Mag., and contains much that is of interest to Potato-growers. — W. G. 



Potato Diseases in Vermont {U.S.A. Dep. Agr. Exp. Stn. 

 Vermont, Bull. No. 106, pp. 230-235 ; 5 plates). — This general report 

 gives the result of spraying Potatos in 1902, .chiefly with Bordeaux 

 mixture, and from this we learn that the average gain of merchantable 

 Potatos was 124 bushels per acre. From tables given, which extend 

 from 1891 to 1903, we may see the loss and gain on unsprayed and 

 sprayed lands during the whole period. 



Experiments were also undertaken to preserve Potatos from scab 

 during the year 1903. Without going into details, it may be said that the 

 conclusion arrived at is that formaldehyde gas is the most promising 

 candidate for favour. — M. C. C. 



Potatos, The Dry Rot of (due to Fusarium oxysporwn). By 

 E. F. Smith and D. B. Swingle (U.S.A. Dep. Agr. Bur. PL Ind., Bull. 



