THE POTATO BLIGHT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 198, 30 November 1910, Page 7

THE POTATO BLIGHT

SOME INTERESTING OBSERVATIONS. "H.M.L." writes to the Editor: —"It seems we have had potato blight regularly since 1904, and so far, it has not \ entirely prevented potatoes being grown. Indeed, the quicker growing kinds, I known as 'early potatoes,' attain a fair size and yield if sown in August on well manured or suitable land so as to hurry them to early maturity. The 'Early Rose' iis the greyhound among potatoes. But ' I had some 'Ashleaf Kidneys' which very nearly equalled them this year. They were planted in stable manure. Each averaged eleven tubers per stem. Blights grow in autumn. They are vegetable ghouls. If spring is childhood, autumn is death, and before the end of November little is seen or heard of the brown-tipped leaf. "The potato is a tropical plant found by Raleigh growing in America, but yet it is grown as far north as 65deg—(North Cape, Europe). It is very sensitive to frost. The three garden thermometers registering 32deg. fah. are young potatoes, tomatoes and French beans. I am unaware if this blight could damage potatoes north of Auckland, if planted sufficiently early, as they would be matured long before the season—we will call 'the spring of blights'—came. We have seasons for diseases. Similarly we have seasons for eruptive fevers of spring measles, scarlatina,'and erysipelas. Blights, bubonic fever, bubonic plague come in autumn. In looking over the history of the potato blight in Ireland of 1847, by J. O. Rourke, P.P., I note 1821 was the first time it was noticed; and from that time to 1847 it appeared slightly at intervals. The average yield waq 5 to 20 tons per acre; average, say, 12 tons. Before 1720 there was no record of the blight. In 1842 the blight began in Germany, visiting Canada in 1844. In 1850 there was a mild blight in Ireland. The value of the crop in Ireland in 1845 was £18,000,000. Fully £9.000,000 was lost, which means 50 per cent, of the crop failed. In 1847 1,237,441 acres were under potatoes in Ireland.

"It seems people pander to producing an early blight Iv selecting (a) slow growing, kinds of potatoes; (b) not using most rapid fertilisers; (c) by selecting sheltered situations where conditions of darkness, dmipness. absence of sunshine, and no movement of air make the blight think autumn has arrived. Take as a guide the ergot, so common on cocksfoot seed. It will be found attached to. the seed, chiefly in sheltered places, and even then on the side opposite to the prevailing wind. Blights do not like wind! I believe Australia will have the blight this year, even with its sunshine and dryness."