The
farm has learned from its sources that western Massachusetts is showing signs of
blight in both tomatoes and potatoes, and of course the fear becomes that it
will find its way here.
It is
an irony of late summer that we desperately crave frontal changes to bring much
needed moisture for the maturing fruit, yet more often such storms can also
deliver unwanted pests and plagues. An
early hurricane in the south will push all sorts of insects ahead of it. Easier
yet are windborne spores of fungus that can settle here on the fields.
There’s
no report from the forecasters about coming storms in the next few days, though
that doesn’t slow the preventative work here. The tractor was out early as
usual, but the normal diesel was masked by the fans of the sprayer, working the
tomato rows with fungicide.
Notes:
Cardinal
flower and Pickerel Weed – in bloom in the wetland bogs of Rutland rail trail.
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