170 ANNUAL REPOBT OF NEW- YORK 



bly Opposed to the health both of the grape and the potato, and 

 very prejudical to the fruitfulness of all other tropical plants. 



RECAPITULATION AND CONCLUSION. 



1. Causes of Disease. — If the foregoing reasoning, both direct 

 and analogical, be correct, and the report of facts quoted in the 

 culture of sugar cane be correct also, the disease of that plant 

 (even after making large admissions for the possible influence of 

 exhaustion of the soil, in many cases, fi-om long cropping,) is 

 referable 



a. To climate considered as too cool and fitful, and presenting 

 a season too short for the maturity of the crop. This, I suppose, 

 is the great cause. 



6. To the too long use of cuttings, often very unwisely chosen 

 from the most unripe cane, frequently injured during the winter 

 season, and derived from varieties of the cane not adapted in 

 season of maturity to the climate of the sugar growing States. 



c. To a soil often naturally or artificially too rich or impulsive, 

 which, joined with a course of culture often too stimulating, pro- 

 vokes the late growth, and consequent imperfect maturity of the 

 crop, especially when planted too thickly.* 



2. The immediate remedy. — If the preceding view of the 

 causes of disease be correct, an immediate remedy would involve : 



a. The selection of soils of but moderate fertility, and those 

 well drained, and naturally, from mechanical structure, warm, 

 especially for the culture of seed cane. 



* I do not know what may have heen the influence of the last summer on the sugar cane 

 at the south. At the north the season was very dry. If it were but moderately so at the 

 south there may have been a sound crop of cane. AUhough genial years, like 1852, may 

 occaBionally give such crops, I have no hope in the ultimate success of its culture in the 

 use of the present varieties. After the first impressi('n of potato disease was a little miti- 

 gated, the hope was confidently expressed that it would decline and disappear. To my 

 surprise such a hope has been recently expressed in a high place; but every habitual and 

 observing cultivator knows that such a hope is utterly fallacious. As long ago as 1847, I 

 expressed my despair of any such desirable result being ever attained. (See Transactions 

 of N. Y. State Ag'\ Societj-, 1847, p. 455.) An even tempered season wi'l give good crops 

 even with the old s'rts. So also very dry seasons, as 1854 and 1856, will give sound though 

 scant crops. But changeful years as 1846, or hot damp ones as 1850, 1851 or 1855, are sure 

 to disease it. The Yam of NcAv-Jcrsey, the imported Rough Purple Chili, and a few seed- 

 lings, are the only uniformly reliable sorts known to me. Others occasionally do well in 

 medium soils and on northern slopes, especially if dug early. So I apprehend it will result 

 with the sugar cane. Exemption from disease in particular soils and seasons, is in harmony 

 with well-dcfineQ physiological laws; but it by no means disproves the existence of inhe- 

 rent and sure tendency to speedy ruin, of all the old varieties, alike of the potato and the 

 sugar cane. 



