A NEW POTATO PEST.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1188, 25 July 1911, Page 8

A NEW POTATO PEST.

. A NEW POTATO PEST. In tlio course of an article on potato experiments at the Moumahaki State I'arm, Mr. Primrose Jl'Conncll says that t on the whole the season, although" rather ' ;i>hort of moisture for swelling, the tubers I had been fairly favourable for the potato crop at the lurni,.,arid with few excep-. tions the-yield was: satisfactory. Unfortunately a new pest had made its appearance for the first time in this neighbourhood, and it had the appearance of being even marc difficult to deal with than tho i..-" Irish or other blights. This was the moth Gelcohia Operculelln, on which disease the Government Biologist reported ; in April Inst. Acting under the advice given in the report, all tubers selected for the next ■ year's seed were at once steeped for fifteen minutes in corrosive sublimate, at the rate of loz. to 8 gallons water, and put-away in shallow boxes for sprouting. For the latter purpose an inexpensive, house has been put.up, made of Sin. by Sin. spars and Jin..mesh wire, netting, tho latter sunk 2ft. in tho ground to make it rat-proof. -The house, has a 3ft. passage ' -up the centre, with four rows of shelves on each side to carry tho sprouting boxes. ~- The latter are 3in. deep, lOin. wide, and Win. long.' The end boards are Gin. higher than the sides, mid connected by a lin. ;by lin. spar, which also serves as a handle ito the box when the tubers are being ■planted. The high ends enable the boxes /to be piled one on top of the other without injury to the sprouts. The boxes may be ptored in this manner without the aid of shelves, but by the use of the latter the ] tubers are more easily examined during •tho winter months. The tubers should {be carefully examined periodically, nnd -"" nil diseased or any showing "needle" sprouts removed. A small niece should be cut off the stem end of the sot so as fa expo?e tho presence of nny internal disease. Any potato showing an inner brown ring is affecfad with fcacteriosis, ,bik! should not bo planted.