Potato Culture. 



healthier plants. But it by no means 

 follows that, because a plant is attack- 

 ed by mildew, it must necessarily be 

 left to die, any more than it follows 

 that, because an animal is infested with 

 vermin, it should be let alone to be 

 eaten up by them. 



REMEDY FOR THE POTATO-ROT. 



In treating for the potato-rot, " an 

 ounce of prevention is worth a pound 

 of cure ;" for when leaves or vines are 

 once dead, they ever remain so. All 

 that can be done for potatoes infested 

 is to stop the mildew from spreading, 

 by destroying it where it is, and by 

 strengthening " those things which 

 remain." The writer was led to the 

 adoption of the remedy proposed by 

 experiments made upon fruits. 



Every one who has an apple or 

 pear-orchard must have observed that 

 mildew of fruit supervenes after some 

 sudden change of temperature, espe- 

 cially when accompanied by rain. 

 Spots of mildew invariably form on 

 the young fruit immediately after a 

 cold night, when the thermometer has 

 indicated a change of twenty to twen- 

 ty-five degrees. This growth of mil- 

 dew takes place when the apples are 

 of various sizes, from the earliest for- 

 mation to the size of large marbles. 

 These fungous growths appear as dark- 

 colored spots, which arrest the growth 

 of the apple immediately beneath, 

 causing it to become distorted, while 

 the expansion and contraction bring 

 on diseased action, which results in the 

 cracking and general scabbiness of the 

 fruit. 



Knowing that dry-rot (Merulius 

 Lachrymans, (Schum,) another species 

 of fungus, was remedied by an appli- 

 cation of sulphuric acid, I thought 

 it might possibly destroy the fruit mil- 

 dew. An application of plaster, (gyp- 

 sum,) which is composed of lime and 

 sulphuric acid, was made with the 

 happiest results. It was found that 



an apple dusted with ground plaster 

 at its first formation remained free 

 from mildew and came to maturity, 

 while apples growing by it, but not so 

 treated, became scabby and worthless. 

 It was also ascertained that a thorough 

 application of plaster destroyed the 

 mildew after it had formed, and that 

 such fruit came to maturity. On the 

 potato mildew, so far as the writer's 

 experience extends, plaster, if applied 

 early, is a perfect prevention, and if 

 not delayed too long after the disease 

 appears, is a certain remedy. 



The vines should be watched close- 

 ly, and on the first appearance of the 

 disease plaster should be applied ; not 

 merely sowing it broadcast, but dash- 

 ing it over and under the vines, bring- 

 ing it in contact with the stalks, using 

 a handful to three or four hills. Plas- 

 ter for this purpose should be very 

 dry and powdery, and should be ap- 

 plied when the air is still. One appli- 

 cation is seldom sufficient; it should 

 be renewed as often as circumstances 

 require. Examine the vines about 

 three days after a cold night, or about 

 the same length of time after a heavy 

 rain. If the leaves begin to curl and 

 wither, apply plaster at once ; and, in 

 short, whenever the vines show any 

 signs of drooping, be the cause bites 

 of insects, excessive aridity, or exces- 

 sive humidity of the atmosphere, or 

 sudden change of temperature, droop- 

 ing from any cause whatever indicates 

 the approach of mildew, which should 

 be promptly met with an application 

 of plaster. As before stated, plaster 

 the vines as soon as they are up, again 

 after the last plowing and hoeing ; after 

 that, one, two, or three times, as cir- 

 cumstances indicate. 



By this method the vines are kept 

 of a bright lively green, and the tu- 

 bers are kept swelling until growth is 

 stopped by frost. Another point gain- 

 ed is, potatoes so grown are so sound 

 and free from disease as to be easily 



