Warning to Potato Growers

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3708, 6 September 1906, Page 2

Warning to Potato Growers

BEWARE THE TONGAPOROTU MIXTURE* WORSE THAN POTATO BLIGHT. DESTROYS GERMINATION. Vifo clip the following- from the Taranaki “ Daily New* . From time to time many socalled preventatibes aiid antidotes for tlldt potato scourge—blight—that decimated the potato crops of the colony last ■ year, have appeared in the newspapers. Many were palpably absurd; and based on utter misconception of the disease. Unfortunately many farmers, for their own well-being, are very credulous, especially if any new so-called remedy is propounded which calls for a minimum of labor and inconvenience. One specific that has had a large vogue amongst planters within the last few weeks is known to fame— ; or ill fame—as the Tougaporutu mixture. Some time ago ; several Taranaki newspapers, acting on information supplied by Mr Eastwood, of Tongaporutu, who claimed to have used and demonstrated the worth of his mixture, published the formulae of the specific “for the benefit of their readers.” This so-called specific for the prevention of blight in potatoes is as follows : —“ 6-lb of nitrate of potash and 61b of sulphate of ammonia, dissolved in 25 gallons of water (approximately 40Z. of each to a gallon ofwater—same strength to be used for all seeds). The seed may be soaked for 24 hours, and the potatoes allowed to dry for another 24 hours so as to avoid mildew.” This ammonia and potash mixture apparently cduglit on. Chemists commenced to make it up into packages, and a number of grocers kept the two ingredients in bulk. The fame of this simple remedy spread far and wide, and at latest advices was going the rounds of the Australian Press, Whether or not potato growers outside Taranaki have commenced to use the mixture is not known, but in Northern Taranaki, at least, farmers and small planters have rushed in with their orders, to their prospective crop’s undoing. Within the past week or two a number of planters who had treated their seed with “Tongaporutu,” became concerned at the non-ap-pearance of the young shoots, now some lime overdue. One gentleman of an inquiring turn of mind in the Inglewood district seems to have been the first to make practical investigation regarding the tardiness of his crop’s growth, and he cautiously removed the soil from the resting place of one of the “ sets.” Nothing, however, could be found to denote that he had ever planted there, and he commenced to doubt his senses, or his neighbours’ honesty. Proceeding further with his investigations, however, he at length discovered some remains of potatoes in a condition of more or less putrefaction. The seed had rotted in the ground. Quickly the news spread abroad, and other growers proceeded to investigate their plantings. Not in all cases, though, had the tubers rotted ; in some, they were found apparently healthy, but with their powers of germination evidently destroyed, not a sign of a sprout being seen. Within the past few days dozens of corroborating cases have been reported from all over the district, growers in and around New Plymouth being heavy losers. At the same time, however, a case has been brought to our notice of a grower, who treated his tubers with the mixture, and planted them whole, whose crop has so far progressed satisfactorily. It may be, however, that he was one who failed to follow the published directions implicitly. That particular instance notwithstanding, there is no doubt that a very heavy loss has been occasioned by the use of Mr Eastwood’s specific, and growers would be studying their best interests if they confined themselves to Bordeaux and other mixtures which have proved their efficacy. It is understood that Mr Eastwood claims that he has never had anything go wrong with seed which he had treated, but it is very evident that his prescription, so far as the public have learnt it from the newspapers, is not only a preventative for blight, but a prrver,tative of germination as we.l. We have been shown a number of potatoes that were treat;: I exactly according to direction, and which within a week or so had withert 1 up to about half their original size, become blackened and univiting, and evidently been completely destroyed for all purposes. Ifo'.at ■ blight, bad as it is, is a mere circumstance compare;! ■.b'.’i •.to'-, blight specifics as “ Tongaporut : mixture. ”