1858. 



NEW ENGLAND FARIVIER. 



511 



discovered. Undoubtedly, there are improve 

 ments yet to be made in all ; and tlie inventor of 

 this will be behind none in endeavoring to dis 

 cover and adopt them. But, as the machine is 

 now, no one need be deterred from using it, be- 

 cause he has only oxen to employ in drawing it. 

 If they are well trained, and he is a careful driver 

 he will desire no better team, and be satisfied 

 that his work is done more economically and 

 better than it could have been by hand mowing 



Now that I am writing, let me suggest the in- 

 quiry, Mr. Editor, whether a special meeting of 

 our County Agricultural Societies, for the pur^ 

 pose of testing the mowing and reaping by ma^ 

 chinery and by hand labor, might not] be profit' 

 able and desirable. Such meetings might be had 

 in July, in suitable places, at a distance from the 

 place of regular meetings, so as to accommodate 

 those whose residence is so far from it, as to pre 

 vent them from doing so much for the Society as 

 they would, and from sharing so largely in the 

 benefits and pleasures of the annual show as they 

 ought. At these special meetings, stock might 

 be exhibited, and many articles brought out 

 which would otherwise seldom or never be taken 

 to a distant Fair. 1 have always thought that 

 such a meeting, in this county, would be largely 

 attended, and be made highly useful and profit- 

 able ; while it would serve, in a measure, to equal- 

 ize the privileges of the agricultural society to 

 those who join it in towns remote from the place 

 of the annual show. s. 



Medjield, Sept. 14. 



For the New England Farmer, 

 CAUSE OP POTATO ROT. 



Friend Brown : — The pictorial illustration in 

 your paper of this date would seem to indicate 

 that you are in a measure carried away by the 

 bugs — at least, so far as potatoes are concerned. 

 The microscopic theories on this subject are so 

 plausible, and so diSicuIt to be met, by those 

 who have not complete magnifying instruments 

 at command, that it is almost useless to attempt 

 a replication thereto. 



After the expressed opinions of several of our 

 most scientific observers, such as Dr. Harris, of 

 Cambridge, and Dr. Fitch, of Albany, that "in- 

 sects are not the cause of the potato rot," and 

 their complete exposition of the several varieties 

 of insects charged with being the cause, I 

 thought no one would have the presumption 

 again to introduce them. So it is, no theory 

 is so visionary as not to find some followers ; 

 and when the leading columns of the most relia- 

 ble agricultural journals in our land, are caving 

 in, it is time to look about and see on what foun- 

 dations our own notions are based. 



It has Ijeen repeatedly averred, and not con- 

 tradicted to my knowledge, that the blight upon 

 the potato has made its appearance on the same 

 day, — aye, even on the same part of the day, 

 over a wide extent of territory, covering many 

 towns and even counties. If this be so, it would 

 seem to be brought about by some influence 

 more pervading, than a fly on the leaf, or the 

 gathering of little worms at the base of the 

 vines.* I allude to these because in times past 

 my attention was called to them as ilie real op- 

 erating cau.se of the rot. Now, it seems, the 



cause is found in the development of eggs laid 

 upon the potato when growing, in like manner 

 as the germ whence springs the canker worm is 

 deposited and cemented in the limb of the tree 

 by the grub that precedes it. Whence comes the 

 insect that deposits the eg^, or how it finds its 

 way to the potato, is not explained. But if it be 

 true that a little deeper covering of the earth 

 will save the potato harmless, this is indeed a 

 fortunate circumstance ; possibly, only those tu- 

 bers which grow near the surface will be found 

 impregnated with the poison. I have always 

 found those potatoes, which, before they were 

 dug, had been exposed to the sun and air, so as to 

 become discolored, to be of doubtful value. But 

 it never occurred to me to think that they had 

 been haunted by insects. 



You well remark that the opinion is general, 

 that the potato rot is caused by atmospheric in- 

 fluences. It is sound philosophy, when we find 

 a sufl[icient cause to seek no further. Perhaps 

 you will ask me how comes this cause in the at- 

 mosphere ? If you should, I must act the Yan- 

 kee so far as to answer your question by asking 

 another, — how came the lightning there ? When 

 you answer my inquiry, I will answer yours. 



Sept. 18, 1858. J. W. Proctor. 



* I remember that an eminent manufacturer rode all the way 

 from the banks of the Merrimac, to show me these groups of in- 

 sects; and because I did not at once acquiesce in a demonstra- 

 tion so palpable, he pronounced me anything but a wise man. 

 I believe ttds same gentleman continues strong in the faith, that 

 he has discovered tte cause. If so, your own county of Middle- 

 sex will have the glory. Do you know what has become of the 

 $10,000 offer made by the State ? Has it run out.' or is it still 

 available to those who may desire it i 



Remarks. — The opinions of our intelligent 

 correspondent are entitled to respect. But his 

 mere opinions, without much investigation, are 

 not entitled to so much regard as the opinions 

 of those who have made this particular subject a 

 matter of study and investigation for several 

 years. The potato is not more seriously afi'ected 

 than the apple, yet nobody imputes the defect in 

 the latter to the atmosphere. Why cannot care- 

 ful investigation detect an insect in the potato, 

 if he is there, as well as in the apple or plum ? 



For tlie New England Farmer 

 WINTER AND SPRING- WHEAT. 



Friend Brown : — We noticed a communica- 

 tion in the Monthly Farmer for the present 

 month, from Henry Poor, of N. Y., on winter 

 wheat, wherein he expresses a hope to hear from 

 those farmers who have not only asked for their 

 "daily bread," but have been doers in the work 

 of raising it. For the benefit of any New Eng- 

 land farmer who might, by our experience, be in- 

 duced to sow wheat, and for the satisfaction of 

 one who we think advocates one of the best in- 

 terests of New England farmers, we venture to 

 make the following statements, viz. : — That we 

 have raised winter wheat on our farm almost 

 every year for the last ten or twelve years, and 

 found it as sure, and quite as profitable a crop, 

 as any we have raised. The average yield per 

 acre, with us, has been about 25 bushels. 



In 1855 we purchased some seed wheat in 



