THE CANADIAN H0RTICULTUEI8T. 



137 



plant is certainly a low form of vege- 

 table life, inca})able of manufacturing 

 food from the mineral kingdom, but 

 fastening upon other plants and feeding 

 upon their juices. A wet season sup- 

 plies conditions well adapted for its 

 development, and hence we find the 

 ** rot " associated with such weather. 

 Thei'e is no doubt that many spores are 

 always more or less present, buh they 

 are prevented from being a source of 

 trouble because the weather is not suited 

 for their growth. 



Remedies. — The " rot " usually ap- 

 pears about the first two weeks in 

 August, and if the weather is favourable 

 its spread is very rapid, for as soon as 

 the thread-like structure which arises 

 from the spore is developed it imme- 

 diately becomes spore-bearing. Hence 

 the importance of examining the plants 

 for the appearance of the brownish 

 spots that indicate the presence of the 

 fungus. 



1. As soon as discovered, dig the 

 potatoes. Delay will allow it to spread 

 to the stems, and thence to the tubei*s. 

 If it reaches these and damp weather 

 comes. " rot " will certainly appear. 



"2. After digging, the potatoes should 

 be put in a cool, dry place, thus sur- 

 rounding them with conditions un- 

 favourable for the growth of the fungus, 

 if any happens to be upon them. 



3. Growing early varieties is worthy 

 of consideration, so that they may 

 mature before the sejison arrives when 

 this parasite is likely to afiect the crop. 



4. All potato stalks in affected lands 

 'lould be gathered and burned, so as 

 ) destroy the millions of spores which 



may be upon them. 



5. Use none but good seed. If at 

 ill aff(ected, reject them; and plant in 

 well-drained land. If the potatoes to 

 be used for seed have been taken from 

 « (hilars wliere affected ones were kept, 

 tliey are likely to have tlie microscopic 

 spores on tliem an<l escaj>e uotico. It 



would be best to get seed from un- 

 affected districts. 



6. It is scarcely necessary to remark 

 that it would be injudicious to plant 

 potatoes in the same field the following 

 year after a visitation of the *'rot," in- 

 asmuch as the ground may retain the 

 germs of the disease. 



7. Avoid planting upon heavy clay 

 soil, but prefer a light and dry sotl. 

 This presents the fewest conditions suit- 

 able for the growth of the fungus. 



The nature of our climate is not so 

 favourable for the development of this 

 injurious fungus as that of Britain ; 

 yet as we are sometimes visited by it, 

 and although scarcely viewed as a 

 scourge, it is well that we should re- 

 member its nature and habits and 

 always be ready to guard against failure 

 if it appears. As last summer was 

 favourable for its propagation, great 

 care should be exercised in the selection 

 of seed this spring. 



The above paper was prepared by 

 Mr. Panton at the request of the 

 Ontario Department of Agriculture, 

 and deserves the careful consideration 

 of all cultivators of the potato. 



SMALL FRUITS. 



(Read htfore the East Lamhton Farmen' Institute, at 

 Watjord, by W. W. Hilborn, of ArkonaJ 



There are no fruits which can be so 

 extensively and profitably grown in 

 Ontario as the small fruits, and none 

 that give such quick returns. No crop 

 on the farm is 



MORE PROFITABLE. 



While I would not advise every farmer 

 to go into growing small fruits for 

 market, I would very earnestly recom- 

 mend all to grow enough for their own 

 use There is no other way in which 

 you can liave the Siime satisfaction as 

 to grow them — not in a small enclosure, 

 where all the work has to be done by 



