282 



GENESEE FARMER. 



Dec. 



Potato Cholera. 



Mr. Editoh: — I am inclined to think that the 

 caption of this article is the best definition of 

 the Potato Rot, that cm be suggested. All my 

 observations indicate that it is the result of atmos- 

 pheric influence, and is an epidemic disease, and 

 results from a diseased leaf, (the lungs of the 

 plant,) affecting the bark and sap, causing an 

 unhealthy state of the blood or circulating juice ; 

 commencing with a miliiew or rust — a living 

 vegetating fungus — a crisped decaying leaf — a 

 loose spongy vascular stem, with sufficient vital- 

 ity to convey the virus to the tubers of the plant. 

 Like the cholera, the cause is beyond discovery, 

 and tlierefore beyond prevention. Of the thou- 

 sand speculations on the subject which are as pro- 

 lific, as of times past was the chess agitation, not 

 one is worth a straw. No theory in application 

 has succeeded. Wet ground, dry ground — ear- 

 ly and late planting — liming, ashing and salting, 

 insects, &c., &c., all share thesarnefate. Even 

 the proposition that the plant had arrived to tlie 

 maturity of its age — passed the zenith of man- 

 hood, and is now in its second childhood and de- 

 cay, and would require renewing froni its proper 

 seed, proves entirely fallacious. 



I have this year cultivated eleven varieties, 

 now four years from the seed, . raised 

 by Mr. Oxderdonk, of Greece. Tiiey were 

 planted on dry ground, and not over stimulated 

 Avith manure — all of which were as badly dis- 

 eased as any of the old varieties. JMy brother, 

 H. N. Langworthy, of Irondequoit, has arrived 

 at the same result, from a large number of kinds 

 that he is experimenting upon. I cultivate on 

 my farm the Ox Noijle, Round Pink Eye, Flesh 

 Coloi*, Old Red, Mercer, and I^Ierino ; all are 

 more or less affected, (the Mercers most.) except 

 the Merinos, tliey were entirely exempt. 



To my mind, sir, it is clearly attributable to 

 the season, or atmospheric influence, for it can 

 hardly be supposed that a new insect could come 

 into existence and prevail in Europe and Amer- 

 ica simultaneously : Nor can the breaking of 

 the sprouts as some writers assert, have come in- 

 to use all at once in the two hemispheres : Nor 

 can the hundi'eds of varieties now in cultivation 

 in the world all be of the same age, and all re- 

 quire renewing at the same period. 



We were not sensible of a change in the at- 

 mosphere during the cholera season, neither by 

 our senses, nor by the most searching chemical 

 analysis; yet how powerful its effects — how fa- 

 tal — how devastating ! Why may not this in- 

 scrutable vegetable disease be attributable to 

 some malign influence on the air, as well as the 

 all dreaded cholera ? Like other epidemics af- 

 fecting man and beast, it will have its period and 

 pass off, perhaps, forever. 



Thei'e is nothing new under the sun — no per- 

 manent new condition of things can take place ; 

 the laws of the Creation are perfect and immu- 



table and equal to all contingencies. There is 

 no need nor no example of a radical change ki 

 tiie law, or provisions of nature — various tempo- 

 rary calamities are the results of some acciden- 

 tal cambinations, which neutralize themselves 

 and return to their primitive state. 



Shall we abandon the propagation of so valua- 

 ble and wise a provision for the sustenance of the 

 animal creation, in consequence of a partial 

 failure for a few seasons 1 Good sense, and a 

 reliance in the wisdom of Creation prohibits it. 

 L. B. Laxgworthy. 



The 



Farmer.— His Position, Responsibili- 

 ties, and Duties. 



NUMBER FOUR. 



The farmer above every other class in the 

 country, seems to forget that knowledge is valu- 

 able as an instrument in his calling, and as an 

 auxiliaery to him in his e very-day operations. — 

 The idea prevails to a very great extent, that 

 any body can cultivate a farm — that it is purely 

 mechanical, demanding physical strength alone 

 — and that he who is strongest in body, and can 

 best endure toil, is, as a matter of course, the 

 best fitted for a farmer. This opinion, so preva- 

 lent among agriculturists themselves, is at once- 

 humiliating to their intelligence, and beyond a 

 doubt, degrading in its influence upon the pro- 

 fession. The time has been, and still is, that a 

 man is ridiculed if he attempt to study, and edu- 

 cate himself in preparation for a cultivation of 

 the soil. It is not to be disguised that the great 

 mass look upon book-farming, as it is styled, 

 with contempt. They seem to regard farming 

 to be simply plowing, sowing and reaping — that 

 nianual labor is the main element in it, and that 

 books and the teaching of books can have noth- 

 ing to do with it. Nothing can be more wide 

 of the truth. No calling demands the exercise 

 of more discrimination — niore critical and anal- 

 ytical thought and reasoning — more calculation, 

 and close comparison of cause and effect — than 

 agriculture ; and none is better calculated, if 

 rightly pursued, to develope and mature the in- 

 tellectual faculties, and to give them full and en- 

 larged action. Instead of selecting, as is now 

 the case too generally, the dullest and the most 

 stupid of the family for farmers, the brightest in 

 intellect, quickest in perception, and the most 

 commanding for talent and mental power, should 

 be chosen, and when selected, he should be tho- 

 roughly educated for the business — indoctrinated 

 by close study, connected with hard labor, into 

 the theory and practice of tilling, on correct prin- 

 ciples and in the best manner, the soil. How 

 negligent, how lamentably negligent, have the 

 farmers of this country been on this subject ; 

 and how bitterly have they felt the consequences. 

 When the brigiit, active, intellectual boy, shall 

 be placed upon, and educated for the farm, in- 



