A Potato Disease.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4763, 2 October 1893, Page 2

A Potato Disease.

[FBOM oub. own cobrespondent.] WELLINGTON, Sept. 30. Professor Kirk, of the Department of Agriculture, has been communicated with by Mr Houston, M.H.R., on the subject of a new blight which has affected the potato crop in Mongonui lately. The disease first proclaims its presence by the leaves and stalks turning yellow just as the plant is ripening, and then breaking off close to the ground. When the potatoes are dug up they present a healthy appearance,' but on being cut open they are found speckled with small dark spots, and before potatoes so affected have been many days out of the ground they became soft, and eventually melt away into a pulpy mass. If only a few of the diseased potatoes are packed in a sack with sound tubers, these latter become speedily affected, and the whole parcel is destroyed. In reply to Mr Houston, Professor Kirk says it is impossible from mere description and in tho absence of specimens to state positively what the blight iB, but it seems certain that the potatoes are attacked by a fungus. He explains that potatoes grown in damp situations aro liiosfe liable to be attacked. In order to guard against the disease he suggests that fresh seed should be procured aud planted in clean ground in a dry situation. If that cannot be procured, * then seed should be planted in drills wide j enough apart to prevent interlacing. To \ stop the attacks of the potato fungus he t recommends the following mixture] sprayed ! over the plants when in bloom, again ten

days later, and a third time a week afterwards if necessary : — 41b sulphate of copper ground and dissolved in 16 gallons of water; in a separate vessel slake 41b of lime in 6 gallons; mix the two and keep in a wooden vessel.