1846. 



GENESEE FARMER. 



For the GcnesecFarmer. 



Early Planting of Potatoes. 



I HAVE been a good deal troubled with the rot 

 in my potatoes, for several years, and have ex- 

 pended all of my sagacity to discover the cause 

 and cure. I have also read all the speculations 

 on the subject, and they are not a i'ew, embrac- 

 ing every suggestion from loirc tanrms to wilch- 

 craft, and without any satisfactory result to my 

 mind. 



I observed, last fall, that those planted in low 

 ground, or planted too close together, and those 

 that were the most shaded by weeds or tops, were 

 the most affected ; while those in the same field, 

 where they extended to higher ground, and were 

 more exposed to the sun and a free circulation of 

 air, were exempt from the disease. 



I am quite sure the cause of the disease is in 

 the leaf and stems, whereby the sop is not re- 

 turned to the root in a perfected and healthy 

 state, which is the cause of the imperfection of 

 the tuber. I have never been able to discover 

 the action of any insect, nor the existence of any 

 mildew or parisitic plant, and the only difference 

 in the diseased plant from the healthy one, is a 

 discoloration of the bark of the vine, and a soft 

 flabby feeling like as if it was wilting. I there- 

 fore concluded that the disease originates in the 

 leaf or lungs of the plant, and is generated from 

 some peculiar state of the atmosphere, and of 

 which cholera and endemical diseases in the an- 

 imal system are analogous. 



I propose early planting and early gathering, 

 as a probable cure for this pestilence, as all ear- 

 ly planted and early gathered potatoes, last year, 

 were exempt from this disease. From the 1st to 

 the 15th of May, and previous to corn planting, 

 I would prefer. I do not think the disease is 

 propagated from diseased seed ; but it would be 

 well lo try both kinds, as it is an item of knowl- 

 edge important to be known. Wetting and roll- 

 ing in lime destroys all the fungus plants that af- 

 fect the vegetable economy, and could do no 

 harm. H. Y. 



For the Genesee Farmer. 



Flax on Winter-killed Wheat. 



Mr.. Editor : — It lias been stated to me that 

 (lax seed, sown on land where winter wheat has 

 been killed out, and well harrowed in, will do 

 well The harrowing of the land will prove 

 quite a benefit to the wheat that may be alive. — 

 From one-half to three-fourths of a bushel of 

 seed to the acre will be sufficient. The flax can 

 be cut and threshed with the wheat, and easily 

 separated in cleaning, as the flax seed will run 

 through the screen of the mill into the box. No 

 farmer need fear injuring what wheat may have 

 escaped being killed by harrowing it in the 

 spring, as it will prove a decided benefit to the 

 crop. I think rolling after harrowing is useful. 



Le Roy, March, 1846. M. N. 



For the Geru3see Farmer. 



Friend Editor : — As this journal is intended 

 to ditilise information to the cultivators of the 

 soil generally, and for the best modes of doing 

 so, I wish through its pages to interrogate some 

 of its experienced friends of agriculture — hoping 

 they will furnish the information for the next 

 number. A. piece of light and somewhat sandy 

 soil, having been cropped for several years, what 

 will be the best course to pursue, in order to en- 

 rich it for spring crops, and how deep should it 

 be plowed 1 



On a somewhat low, rough, and rather turfy 

 piece, I wish to make a meadow of timothy gimss. 

 What will be the best method to get it in order, 

 the time for sowing, and the quantity of seed per 

 acre ? How much land should be planted with 

 corn to produce fodder, for the season, for two 

 cows ? Will it pay a farmer to draw his manure 

 seven miles ? What would leached ashes do for 

 such land, and to be drawn the above distance ? 



Learner. 



Rochester, 2cZ mo. 23fZ, 1846. 



Remarks. — Without wishing to prevent by so 

 doing any of our able correspondents or readers 

 from answering the above questions, we will 

 briefly reply to the same. 



" A light sandy soil, which has been cropped 

 for several years" and become somewhat exhaust- 

 ed, will, in the absence of barn-yard manure, be 

 more benefitted by a fair dressing of leached ash- 

 es mixed with caustic lime, one of the latter to 

 five of the former, than by any other fertilizer 

 of equal cost. The quantity to be applied per 

 acre must depend on the expense of the ashes. — 

 It should be plowed from one to two inches deep- 

 er than it was ever before plo.ved, in order, first, 

 to deepen the mellow soil ; and secondly, to 

 bring up to the chemical action of the light and 

 heat of the sun, atmospheric and other meteoric 

 influences, various alkaline and other earthy min- 

 erals, which are necessary to the growth of all 

 cultivated plants. 



If your low land is wet, by all means drain it 

 before you sow timothy seed. Don't forget that 

 one ton of hay grown on land well drained is 

 worth a ton and a half taken from a wet, cold, 

 sour soil. In the latter case the quantity of nu- 

 tritive matter is comparatively quite small. 



Plant from two to three acres in corn to make 

 the fodder for two cows, so as to be sure and 

 have enough. If you have an excess, make it 

 into compost by adding thereto every particle of 

 the dung and urine of the cows. By so doing 

 you may greatly enrich your land, extend your 

 corn-fields, and soon have large crops of shelled 

 corn gratis, or as profit. 



When a farmer and his team have little else to 

 do, it will pay to haul leached ashes and manure 

 seven miles. Let us add that by mixing the ash- 

 es and manure together before their application, 

 both will be improved. 



