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Show TREATMENT OF! POTATOES IS ! 1 GIVEN STRESS! o- . With potato planting time rapidly rapid-ly approaching, County Agent W. J. Thayne has submitted to the readers of The Evening Herald a reliable method of treating potatoes pota-toes before planting. Many inquiries inquir-ies have come into the agent's office during the last two weeks in regard to this. Two methods are given herewith: Corrosive Sublimate (4 ounces oX the chemical to 30 gallons of water) This will kill scab, black leg, and Rhisoctonia that are on the potatoes. pota-toes. But to keep the potatoes free from these three diseases, it is necessary to rotate and plant the treated potato on new ground. The Sublimate should be dissolved in a wooden or earthen container in 2 quarts of hot water befo,re the balance of water is added. Potatoes should be treated for IVj hours. They should be dried as rapidly as possible after treating. They should be kept in sterilized sacks or bins till planted. Corrosive sublimate solution loses strengh with treatment; treat-ment; therefore, one-half ounce of the sublimate should be added for every 4 or 5 bushels treated. It is ; helpful to place the treated tubers ; before cutting in clean crates or t sacks and expose the subdued sunlight sun-light for a period of 10 days to two , weeks. Direct sunlight should be I avoided as it endangers the vitality vital-ity of thft sced. I I Not Formaldehyde Treatment: j The hot formaldehyde treatment j may be used with care. 1 pint of the formaldehyde treatment should be used to 15 gallons of water, and the temperature kept between 121 to ! 125 degrees F. After 3 minutes ex-( ex-( posure in the hot solution, the tub-. tub-. crs are removed, piled, and covered ! while warm for at least 1 hour. I The seed should then be dried thor-j thor-j oughly and kept till planting time. I Greater care should be used in this ! treatment in keeping the tempera-l tempera-l lure up and in not keeping the potatoes piled for over 1 hour's time. Because of this care necessary, neces-sary, they can best be treated by I local farm bureau organizations or j thru neighbors cooperating. In a I day'3 time, if farmers will assemble, j under their local farm bureau, all potatoes to be planted in a community com-munity can be treated. The county agent will be glad to assist local farm bureaus where these arrangements arrange-ments are made, and his help is desired. |