A New Potato Disease.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXII, Issue 42788, 7 October 1905, Page 2

A New Potato Disease.

The beetroot end mangold rot, a minute parastic fungus, technically known asisphaerella tabifica, has recently been found attacking the homely tuber, so that the grower of potatoes has now another enemy to overcome. The parasite has proved very destructive to sugar beet on the Continent, and equally so to mangolds in this country, while swede turnips have suffered to a less extent, but it has not, until recently been recorded as attacking potatoes, and as it has now left its natural home —the beetroot and mangold —it is not at all un likely to be found in other root crops, such as carrots, parsnips, etc. In this connection experiments are to be carried out at Kew, and the results will be awaited with interest. The disease first appears on the leaves in the case of beet and tirnips, and afterwards passes down to the root; and the same course appears to havo been followed with the potatoes. . . Land that has produced a diseased crop should not be used for growing potatoes, mangolds and turnips for some years

As to the methods of destroying the parasite, the most certain means is the application of gas lime, which should be spread over the surface and allowed to remain for a month, after which it should be lightly mixed with the soil, but not buried deeply. Disease 1 potatoes shoull, of course, not bo used f 1 t planting, and diseased portions thatiare cutoff should not be thrown away, but should bo buinod, as the fungus reproduces itself very rapidly on such diseased scraps, and the spores are spread by wind, etc. It will thus be seen that diseased tubeis or roots should be dealt with very drastically if the pest is to be got lid of.—Home Paper.