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zled the minds of the most observant, led many to view it as the " fin- 

 ger of God" — a direct interposition of Heaven. Hence, sucli designa- 

 tions as '-inscrutable distemper," or "mysterious disease." Without ani- 

 madverting on such sentiments, or attempting to controvert them, it will 

 be more profitable to devote the remaining pages of this essay to some 

 of the pre-disposing causes of the potato disease, with suggestions for its 

 eradication. 



There are many ways by which potatoes are pre-disposed to the dis- 

 ease. As formerly stated, inattention to the proper preservation of the 

 vegetable juices may be regarded as the primary cause of taint. In wet 

 seasons, the tubers are frequently rotted in the ground; at other times, 

 they are partially frosted before the time of lifting ; in both these cases 

 the tubei-s are utterly unfit for next year's seed. Potatoes may be 

 soundly raised, yet by improper management^ in pits, or in close cellars, 

 become heated, whereby the juices are abstracted, and the white or dry 

 rot is induced. Such kinds are worthless for seed ; the dry rot is also 

 infectious. 



" A few sickly roots infect the lot, 

 And poison all the rest I" 



Half a bushel of diseased tubers, it has been said, will destroy a whole 

 pit Some potatoes, after being cut, are frequentl}- thrown into a heap, 

 or put into bags, until the time of planting, and thereby heated so much 

 especially in the middle of the heap, as to be seriously injured. The 

 cuts in the middle of the bag share a like fate. When potatoes are cut 

 for seed they should be allowed to dry in a cool, airy place, (but never 

 exposed to the rays of the sun) until the juice which exuded after cut- 

 ting is formed into a thin crust over the surface. 



Potato sets should never be allowed to remain long under the influ- 

 ence of a powerful sun, but should be covered as quickly as possible. So- 

 lar-roasting, in connection with hot earth, and continued warm weather, 

 naturally predispose to potato-taint. Such are some of the evils 

 which mismanagement has hitherto inflicted on this valuable root. 

 Had wheat, barley, oats, or even corn, been used as the potato has been 

 treated, we would have wheat disease, barley disease, and com disease. 

 Most, if not all, of the potato diseases are to be attributed to inisman- 

 agement. The potato disease, as it is commonly called, is no " new 

 thing on the earth ;" it has been long known. The roots have been 



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