THE POTATOE DISEASE. 1*27 



cannot do much to lessen the mischief on this score. It 

 has been proposed to dip slices of potatoe in dilute sul- 

 phuric acid, but it is useless as a practical treatment. It 

 has been proposed, too, to expose the tubers to chlorine, but 

 that also appears quite out of the question. If any chemi- 

 cal means are to be employed, I should recommend the 

 vapor of strong pyroligneous acid ; but I have no faith in 

 any chemical remedy. 



(498.) It has been said that by simply pinching or cut- 

 ting a potatoe the disease is arrested ; but this surely 

 must be a mistake, as I have observed the malady proceed 

 to total disorganization even in a thin section in a dry 

 room. Potatoes might be dried, and thus preserved like 

 the maglia of the Peruvians ; but perhaps this process is 

 not practically so useful as the extraction of the starch. 



(499.) Perhaps, however, there is no plan for the pre- 

 servation of the potatoe at all equal to simply placing it in 

 a cold, dry atmosphere ; and from this we may learn that 

 potatoes should never be kept in large masses, whereby 

 they are liable to become heated ; for in fact everything 

 that favors putrefaction helps the progress of the disease, 

 everything that prevents decomposition retards the action 

 of the malady. 



(500.) In taking a review of the remedies for the 

 potatoe disease, we have found that it is of fundamental 

 importance to stop the cause by destroying the insect, and 

 preventing the spread of the contagion. Secondly, we 

 have considered the best means of stopping the propaga- 

 tion of the mischief; and, lastly, we have endeavored to 

 ascertain the best treatment for curtailing the mischief of 

 the disease in the tuber. 



