POTATO SEED BLIGHT.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5662, 9 June 1911, Page 2

POTATO SEED BLIGHT.

WHEN TO DJG TJJJ2M. r A question jthat is of great tatW'. est in most of the potato 'district* at present is when is the best time to dig lAighted potatoes. In dls*"* sing- this problem in the New S«otfc Wales Agricultural Gazette, Mr ED. Butler says that with the abnormally wet season just experienced ft is rather difficult to advise". Inciter countries the subject has claimed much attention, and the.ultimate conclusion of some experimenters I* that if it is desired to store w tubers they should not be dug until, the tops are dead and lliorougU? dry. As long as the lops.rert** partially green, the spores «f r"?~ blight fungus continue 10 live, *Dfl in the process of digging the tube» become covered with live wpores.M*3' if conditions are at all favourable, more or less rot result*. *™**' lions should be taken after *%#'£ not to cover the potaloeK with top* that have been blighted, as they are= liable to convey infection. AlJJ;**f should be removed before di«fl^; and effectually destroyed. If « intended to market the I»1 *t*J' ' the tops might be removed w'l"** the tubers arc large enough orf*£, iiciently matured, care being «*»• to remove same to R°mi,rjJ^V place and effectually destroy «*■»•, If any infected tubers are founo. they also should be sorted out *» destroyed without delay.