269 



activity and power of those influences provided by nature, to rid the 

 earth of feebleness, and to admonish and correct those who act in oppo- 

 sition to her immutable laws. 



If the foregoing premises are well founded, we may infer that the ex- 

 tent or virulence of the disease in future, will depend partly upon the 

 nature of the season, partly on the adoption of various expedients known 

 to be adverse to the growth of fungi, and chiefly on the progress which 

 is made in regenerating the potatoe plant. 



I propose to consider in the first place, how we should proceed in rais- 

 ing a succession of progressively hardier varieties from seed. Whenever 

 potatoe seed is required, plants should invariably be grown especially for 

 that purpose. A few middle sized tubers, of say about four, of the most 

 healthy varieties we possess, should be selected for the seed-bearing plants; 

 and as the autumn months are generally more favorable to the attack of 

 parasitic fungi than midsummer, early and second early varieties should 

 be preferred ; because unless we had late varieties, which had been prov- 

 ed to be able to resist the disease, the chances would be greater of the 

 plants being destroyed before they had perfected their seeds, than if early" 

 or second early varieties only were used. The plants m\ist be grown froaa 

 the first in the open ground, in a situation sheltered from strong winds,, 

 yet not confined or damp, but freely exposed to the sun. Enrich the soil 

 with decayed leaves, or chopped grassy turf; on no consideration what- 

 ever apply liquid manure, or a heavy dressing of animal manure. 



In favorable seasons most late varieties will produce a crop of berries 

 as well as tubers. Intermediate varieties generally blossom, and some- 

 times bear a few berries ; but the earliest sorts, owing to the early forma- 

 tion of tubers, seldom blossom, and very rarelj'^ ripen seeds. These will 

 obviously require diff"erent treatment. In order to obtain seeds from the 

 early varieties, we must adopt the practice of Mr. Knight, who found 

 that if the plants are prevented from forming tubers, an abundance of 

 blossoms and seeds will be the result. 



Having made choice of a situation and manured the soil according to 

 the foregoing directions, fix stakes in the ground about three feet apart, 

 where each plant is to grow, then place a tuber on the newly dug soil, 

 and in contact with the south side of a stake, cover the tuber by a mound 

 of earth about five inches deep. Sufi'cr only one stem to grow, and as it 

 advances in growth, tie it to the stake to avoid accidents from the wind, &c> 

 When the plant is about five inches high, wash away the mound of soil 



