The Scotch Potato Crop

Southland Times, Issue 14788, 3 November 1900, Page 2 (Supplement)

The Scotch Potato Crop

Writing on 22nd August, the N. B. Agrioulburist says : The fate of the potato crop is hanging in the balance. The dreaded fungus, aa evidenced by the familiar smell when the weather ia muggy, has again appeared in many parts of the country , particularly among the varieties grown in tbe neighbourhood of towns for the early mark#t. Most unfortunately, vho, tbe weather is of the kind which is most favourable for the development and spread of the pest, for tbe fangus possesses wonderfil powers of spore production when the air is moist and the tempeiature comparatively high. In such a case the spores i.e., the seeds of the fungus, are not only multiplied with exceeding rapidity, but are wafied by every breath of wind {run one plant to another, and fehs very insects and birds whioh light on the affected plantß will carry millions of Bpores away on their wings to infect other plants and ether fialde. Indeed, so rapid v the spread of the disease in moist, muggy weather.that a field whioh only a day or two b fore presented a most luxuriant appearauoe will be found to be a mass of putrid shaws and rapidly rotting tubers. The present position and proep cfcs of the pota o crop, therefore, are well fitted to cause great anxiety to the growers. If the woither continues moist and muggy the disease is sure to spread rapidly, and no one can venture to forecast what the crop may be. On the other band, if the weather break up crisp and dry, the disease will be nipped in the bud, and its spores will be left unhatched.in which case a big crop— at anyrate in Scotland — will be reaped. Truth to tell, the great majority of farmers who grow potatoes on an extensive ECile do not object to the disease spreading in other districts than their own, as a very heavy crop over the country almost invariably spells low and unremunerative prices. At the same time, however, these same growers have good reason just now to hope for weather which would prevent the disease spreading, as the kind of weather which would favour the spread of the disease would alto favour the sprouting of |grain In

the stook, and would work sad havoc with the grain crop. Besides, the Scottish potatogrowers have no particular reason to fear 'the p'ague of abundance' in potatoes this year, for the crop in England is by no means a heavy one. Pi ices for potatoes in Soot'and are at rather a low figure just now certainly, bu thesi low prices are to a considerable extent the result of growers forcing their stocks into the market from a fear of the disease spreading amongst them. But even at the present price ot from 45j to 50s per ton, a big crop will yield a passably good return.