

' 

 170 AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. 



the surface in a cloudy day, or be gathered into small heaps, 

 with some of the tops spread over them, until freed from the 

 surface moisture, when they may be stored. Those selected 

 for seed, should be placed in small piles in the field ; or in thin 

 layers in a cool, dry place in the cellar, where the air is ex- 

 cluded and no heating or injury can occur. Those intended 

 for winter consumption, may be put in dry bins or barrels in 

 the store-room, and covered with straw and dry sand, or loose 

 earth, to prevent the circulation of air. Such as are not 

 wanted till the following spring, may be kept on the field, if 

 there be not sufficient room in the cellars. It is better when 

 thus stored, that they occupy an excavation on the north 

 side of a hill, in a porous soil. If shaded by trees, it will 

 lend to shield them longer from the heat of the sun, and they 

 may thus be kept till June, before opening. They are gen- 

 erally stored in the level field, in an excavation one or two 

 feet deep, four or five wide, and of* any length required. 

 They are piled as high as they can be conveniently ridged up, 

 then covered with straw, carefully placed over them like 

 shingles on a house, and covered lightly with earth till the 

 severe frosts, when they should be adequately covered to 

 protect them from rains and frost during winter. A partial 

 heating and sweating take place soon after storing, and till 

 this is complete, a loose covering of straw is all they re- 

 quire. A ditch lower than the base must encircle the heap 

 when the soil consists of clay, from which an outlet conducts 

 away all the water, as any left upon them will inevitably 

 produce decay. 



Diseases. The potato has long been subject to the curl. 

 From numerous experiments made in Scotland to avoid this 

 disease, it has been found, that seed from potatoes which 

 were gathered before fully ripe, gave a much better and 

 surer crop. It would be well to try the experiment in this 

 country, where there is any deficiency of product from want 

 of full and healthy development. Potatoes are also affected 

 by the scab and grub, against whose attacks there is no 

 remedy, unless in a change of seed and locality. 



The rot has for several years produced serious and in 

 creasing injury to the potato crop, threatening starvation in 

 Ireland, and causing great loss and suffering in several othei 

 countries in Europe. Its effects have also been extensively 

 felt in the United States. Numerous and scientific examina- 

 tions have been made on the subject. The proximate cause 

 s supposed to be a fungus, but what are the reasons for its 



