98 The Potatoe Plague. 



the cause of rot, a certain and immediate remedy is at hand ; 

 for, " when the potatoe crop has been furnished with sufficient 

 alkali, the fungi have nothing to feed on, and do not attack 

 the potatoe ; " and further, " if we apply strong alkalies in 

 sufficient quantities to any plants liable to attack from mil- 

 dew, rust, blight, &c., (which are various developements of 

 fungi,) before they are attacked, they will not be attacked, 

 and if we supply them after they are attacked, they will soon 

 be freed from them" Now alkalies have been applied in 

 considerable quantities to potatoes, and while growing they 

 have not been attacked by the rot, but after gathering and 

 harvesting disease has appeared and destroyed them, show- 

 ing conclusively that fungi is not the cause, but that a deeper 

 one must be sought and a more radical remedy applied. 



What, then, are the causes of this extensive evil ? I state 

 them thus : 



OVER KIPENING, 

 OVER CULTIVATION, 

 DETERIORATION OF SEED. 

 To which might be added, 



CARELESSNESS IN SELECTING SEED. 



In this last particular great losses have been sustained by 

 farmers, not only in the potatoe crop, but in every crop that 

 is cultivated. And this disaster to potatoes may, as its cause 

 is discovered, eventually prove a blessing, by showing the 

 prime importance of selecting good seed. It is surprising 

 that farmers will obey almost every law that must be observ- 

 ed in good cultivation, and yet neglect to supply themselves 

 with seed, properly saved and cured. It admits of de- 

 monstration that much of the losses arising yearly in the 

 various crops of our agriculture, are traceable directly to the 

 want of good and pure seed. Of what use, I would ask, is 

 thorough cultivation, plowing, hoeing, pulverizing and man- 

 uring, if the grand object for which all this labor is expended 



