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REMARKS ON THE CULTURE OF PREVIOUS YEARS, ALSO ON THE CAUSE 

 AND CURE OF THE DISEASE OF THE ROT. 



Does not the last mentioned instance prove, that in order to have 

 the potatoes healthy, the seed must be healthy also. I have no- 

 ticed for several years, that common potatoes did not blossom, or if they 

 did, they seldom bore seed balLs, and that my terra-cultured potatoes 

 bore plentifully. On them the old tubers do not ferment, and this ac- 

 counts for the reason why the old tuber has been of necessity taken from 

 the stalk (of late years) by those who wished to get balls, viz : to prevent 

 fermentation, which makes the tops cast the bud or blossom. I planted 

 a quantity of seed balls last fall, and have succeeded admirably with 

 them. They are left to winter in the ground, where they grew. I have 

 lately, December 5th, examined to see if potatoes kept in the ground 

 where they grew, are keeping better than those which have been re- 

 moved. I give the preference to the foimer. 



The cause is not justly attributed to the climate. The potato flour- 

 ishes in a greater variety of climate than any other plant made use of as 

 food for man ; therefore, after the length of time the root has been cul- 

 tivated, it would be strange if, in every country where the potato has 

 been cultivated, the cause of the disease was to be found in the cli- 

 mate. If cultivation alone has caused the evil, I argue that other, 

 I)lant6, and also our cereal grains, will fail from the same cause. If, (as 

 is strongly argued) the cause may be traced solely to our neglect to re- 

 new the root by producing from the ball, then it follows that the age of 

 tlie variety is the cause of the evil. I would ask, does any gentleman think 

 that varieties are less aged in countries where the potato is indigenous 

 than in our own ; if not, then we may reasonably conclude that the po- 

 tato is as much diseased in its native forests as in our own country ; a thing 

 I have not heard contended, but on the contrary, we are often recom- 

 mended to resort thither to get the potato, that we may thereby once 

 more have healthy roots. I believe the cause of the disease to be a 

 transgression of a natural law. If God ordained that the earth is the 

 place for roots, then has man made a great mistake and transgressed his 

 law, by taking the root from the ground during nearly one-half of the 

 year. If bruises on other roots often produce sad effects, then in the 

 present case, man has been imprudent, to say the least. It is well 

 known to every observer, that potatoes deteriorate in quality by keeping 



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