1869. 



NEW ENGLAND FARjVIER. 



287 



THE POTATO. 



ALTER Ra- 

 LEIGH' S 



name has 

 long been 

 pp; associated 

 ?P. with the 

 history of 

 the intro- 

 duction of 

 ~^ the potato 

 ?^ into Eu- 

 rope. It ap- 

 pears, however, 

 that the plant was known to 

 Clnsius, a distinguished French botanist, at 

 least thirty-three years before its introduction 

 by Sir Walter. But he is undoubtedly enti- 

 tled to the credit of encouraging the cultiva- 

 tion and use of the potato, which has proved 

 one of the greatest blessings ever conferred 

 upon man. When cultivated in the virgin soil 

 in this country, from three to four hundred 

 bushels per acre was the common crop. There 

 were certam elements in the soil or climate, 

 or both, that seemed peculiarly favorable to 

 its growth, and the same varieties were often 

 raised upon the same soil for many successive 

 years, without any apparent deterioration in 

 quantity or quality. 



But all this is now changed. The average 

 crop of Massachusetts for l'B67 was ninety-six 

 bushels per acre, and scarcely any variety can 

 be depended on to jield potatoes of uniformly 

 good quality. 



Since the disease that prevailed so exten- 

 sively twenty or tventy-five years ago, the 

 yield per acre has diminished at least two- 

 thirds. L nd that is in such condition that it 

 will produce more corn and grass than it for- 

 merly did, will }ield but about one-third as 

 many potatoes as it once would. Even when 

 they are apparently healthly and of sufficient 

 size, it is rare that the crop exceeds a hundred 

 bushels, and unless both the soil and season 

 are favorable, the quality is comparatively 

 poor. The most thorough investigation and 

 the most careful experiments and observation 

 Lave failed to ascertain satisfactorily the cause 

 of the disease, or of the diminished amount of 

 produc'Ion. 



All that can be said is, in a general way, that 

 the potato, like many trees and other vegeta- 



bles at different periods, has been attacked by 

 an epidemic, and it is to be hoped that it will 

 wear itself out, and that the potato will in time, 

 recover its healthy comlition. 



In the meantime it has been found by expe- 

 rience that new varieties, for a few years, ex- 

 hibit the most vigorous growth, and are the 

 most free from disease. Several of these 

 varieties, and especially the earlier ones, have 

 given their cultivators good satisfaction, and 

 encouraged the farmers to hope that some new 

 variety may be found, that will yield as large 

 crops as they formerly raised. Some good va- 

 rieties have been produced by enterprising and 

 philanthropic individuals. But lately the busi- 

 ness seems to have fallen into the hands of 

 unscrupulous speculators, who are thriving 

 upon the credulity of the public. They are 

 resorting to the tactics of the quack medicine 

 men who understand that success depends 

 but Ilt'le upon the quality of the article, but 

 upon the amount Ihey invest in advertising. 

 The number c f new varieties offered to the 

 public, each claiming to be the best, bids fair 

 to keep pace with the new varieties of pills 

 and syrups. Now all this is simply ridiculous, 

 and we have very little sympathy for those 

 who allow themselves to be swindled out of 

 their money by these transparent tricks of 

 speculators. 



It is very easy to produce new varieties from 

 the seeds of the potato. In our own experi- 

 ence, fourteen varieties were produced from 

 the seeds of one potato ball, and we have 

 heard of a still greater number. Most of the 

 varieties, it is true, were of no value, but some 

 were good. One or more varieties of good 

 potatoes may be expected from every such ck- 

 periment, and it is to be hoped that enter- 

 prising farmers and gardeners will continue to 

 make them, and carefully note the results. In 

 this way, as old varieties depreciate or run 

 out, new ones will be foan i to take their 

 place. 



The Early Rose, which sold last spring for 

 three dollars a pound, is offered now for 

 seventy-five cents. The reports respecting 

 the quantity and quality of this variety are as 

 various as were the soils upon which it was 

 planted. 



Some good may res«lt from the potato fever. 

 Those who pay fancy prices for new varieties 

 will be likely to cultivate them well, and re- 



