A DRY ROT OF THE IRISH POTATO TUBER. 
BY E. MEAD WILCOX, GEORGE K. K. LINK, AND VENUS W. POOL.* 
INTRODUCTION. 
The first specimens of the dry rot herein described were re- 
ceived by the department of Agricultural Botany during the 
winter of 1907-1908 from western Nebraska. A preliminary 
survey of the situation showed clearly the importance of this new 
rot, and an exhaustive investigation of the disease was outlined 
and has been continued to the present time. During the summers 
of 1909 and 1910 a branch laboratory was maintained at Alliance 
in quarters generously provided by the local authorities to whom 
we are under obligations for the facilities placed at our disposal. 
In this manner we were able to study the prevailing local con- 
ditions and to secure results quite impossible of attainment in a 
laboratory located at a great distance from the seat of The 
trouble. 
In addition to the authors of the present publication the fol 
lowing persons have at various times been connected with this 
investigation : Koland Elisha Stone, George Herbert Coons, and 
Ethel Field. To these persons we here extend our thanks for 
their faithful and conscientious service. Much of this work 
would have been impossible without the generous support of the 
Legislature in providing special funds for the work of the de- 
partment of Agricultural Botany, while the more technical in- 
vestigations have been made possible thru the use of the Adams 
Fund. We wish further to express our thanks to a large number 
of potato growers in the Rand Hill and High Plains regions for 
their interest and assistance, while to E. W. Hunt we are in- 
debted for the earlier specimens furnished and for much infor 
mation as to the field conditions secured thru the use of a 
conveyance provided thru the public spirit manifested by W. L 
Newberry of Alliance. We are indebted to the Department of 
Geography for the map of Nebraska soil regions. 
The present publication gives the results secured to date in our 
investigation of this disease. Certain other problems remain 
* Resigned November 1, 1911. Responsibility for all statements in this 
bulletin rests with the first two authors. 
RESEARCH BUL. 1. AGR. EXP. STATION OF NEBR. 
