GARDEN NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2668, 3 May 1905, Page 10

GARDEN NOTES.

• A MARKET CLOSED.

Growers of potatoes m oui colony this year have anything- but a bright future before them, either as regards tho condition of the tubers or in- finding a market for the surplus , stock. New South "Wales has hitherto -been one of the largest impor-

,ters of owr,-products; this year its ports are closed -against the importation of our potatoes. -; This .'prohibition .order was* first '«aTted among ouselves, when Auckland— was denied- the privilege of sending her potatoes across her own borders, owing to the* outbreak of a. disease which received the name "of ""Irish ro£" but -of which we have yet seen no authoritative description. Why Ireland 'should have received this unenviable it is hard to say, -as it is hardy credible that the Emerald Isle produced the disease. This is one of " the absurdities that occur in giving names, and another instance may be mentioned in the common corn or field thistle, Cincus arvensis r being called- the Californian thistle, as if it had originated in that country, famed for its climatic advantages, whereas it was one f,i 'the- most : widespread pests existing in: the. Homeland - long" before California- was knosaqi - to, the outside world. Reports are made as"" to the existence of the - potato .diseaso in Wellington and Canterbury, in different localities, but no notice has conre- under our observation officially as to its being, present in Otago; Rumours of different diseases come from the where -the much-prized and well-deserving- De~rwent has. been the staple "variety for ''many years. Proving itself to be~ exempt from the troubles of many others

until within" the last two or three years, it' also has succumbed to fungoid attacks. Accounts a-re also widely - circulated of the existence of various diseases in parts of Otagof -which are not, however, verified by any official rpronounceirient, "and it may -well be considered that' they are "very- much ex-&gg*?-**^d,~ "the- information- being -merely from" hearsay, evidence," ' The Agricultural Department has ; it" fairly .'within its scope to mate a thorough inspection' and give a "reliable report. That several kinds of disease.'exist is .undeniable, but it is imprudent, io blazon .forth these as if they ' were universal. The' fate -of the potato crop for this season is now sealed, and cannot be altered. The duty incumbent on every grower having regard to his own interests is to prevent the spread or continuance of -the pest 'where existing, and with this end in view neither care nor expelnse should be spared in applying such means as .practical experience and' biological' research have propounded, and we do not hesitate to . take the scientific remedies advocated by the' atithorities at the Royal Gardens, Kew, all simple and of easy application. In digging the potatoes, every precaution should be taken to reject any tuber showing signs of or supposed to possess a trace of disease. The sound potatoes 7 taken carefully home, 6hould be dusted slightly with 'flour of sulphur on. being pitted or stored. Sulphur is known to be very efficacious in destroying fungoid: germs and preventing infectien, doing" not the slightest harm to the tubers themselves. The pits or heaps are recommended to be regularly gone over, and all faulty potatoes removed. The value of the potato itself and the desire to have clean samples should urge everyone to give every attention to' this work. It is rather a difficuh matter to detect the existence of many phases of fungoid, as they are underneath ahH close -to the skin, and not always visible, from the " outside. A thin 6lice/cut- from the tuber will expose any prevalence* of disease, and the tuber itself will not be injured. Then as to \he rejects: these should be as carefully lifted as the sound tubers,, and carried" away" from 'the ground. These rejects "- being placed in an isolated position, those proving a little affected should again be separated, while those found to be badly infected should be burnt up, the most complete method of destroying the germs. _ The ground in which they were grown should be deeply and frequently gone over, exposing 1 it to atmospheric influence; giving a good allowance of hot lime, and no potatoes should be planted in this ground for at least three years, by which time the fungoid germs are supposed to bepome innooucus. For future crops a change of seed should be made to the most approved varieties and during the period of growth the haulms and leaves should be? sprayed with Bordeaux njixture, to kill any germs that may be floating in the air and resting on the plant. 3la.ny other minor points might be touched upon, but for the present these will suffice. I. M. I.