LIME TREATMENT FOR POTATO-BLIGHT.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 24 January 1918, Page 2

LIME TREATMENT FOR POTATO-BLIGHT.

Mr W. Harris, Fields Inspector, Ohakune, supplies some particulars regarding a means of controlling potato-blight by dusting the plants with lime. The treatment was adopted by him some years ago when farm-manager at the Papatoetoe Orphanage, near Auckland. He states: "This method was adopted when, m spite of steeping the tubers an* regular spraying, the blight appeared. and by its means I was able to sarV crops when not a potato-plant was left ' standmg within miles. I Usually t number of boys with buckets/and instructed them to throw the lime with " force along the ground between the JH; T, he Plantß bein * wet (for the blight always appeared on a moTst muggy morning) the lime adhered tn**± every part of the plant, including thJHI under-side of the leaves. The affect, ]■ leaves soon fall off, Wing the .tenJH stiff and erect with numerou. youngH shoots still fresh and green, and uwalljM within a week the rows are again fiJift£<Wl up with luxuriant foliage. After leavSMF Papatoetoe I only grew small crips ST my own use, and never sprayed at alii pinning my faith to the lime-dusting; sometimes two or three applications were necessary during the season. It may be luck, but I have never had a single blight-diseased tuber for ten years I use shell-lime, but fresh hydraulic lime slacked as required would be just as suitable. The main idea is to have the ' hme fresh and to throw it between the rows with such force : as to create quite a cloud over all the patch "

Monday January 28th, Helensville A. and P. Association Show