No. 9. 



Potatoe Murrain. — Are the old Pears extinct? 



271 



Potatoe Murrain. 



By the above name was disting^uislied a 

 moist gangrene which attacked very gener- 

 ally the potatoe crop of England, late in the 

 summer of the year 1845. July and August 

 were unusually wet and cold, and early in 

 August there were sharp morning frosts. 

 Immediately after, the stems began to de- 

 cay; but the weather continuing wet, instead 

 of their decay being dry, and attended with 

 the usual phenomena of their reduction to 

 mere woody fibre, the putrefaction was moist, 

 and the smell attendant upon it precisely 

 that evolved during the decay of dead po- 

 tatoe haulm partly under water. The stem 

 decayed whilst the fibres connecting the tu- 

 bers with them were fresh and juicy — the 

 putrefaction spread along these, the ichor 

 being absorbed by their still energetic ves- 

 sels, and passing into the still immature and 

 unusually juicy tubers, imparted to them the 

 gangrene; the infection first being apparent 

 at the end nearest the connecting fibre, 

 spreading gradually throughout the liber of 

 the tuber, rendering it brown like a decayed 

 apple, and lastly causing the decay of its in- 

 terior portion. Previously to the final decay, 

 the increased specific gravity of the potatoe 

 was remarkable, amounting to one-third 

 more than that of a healthy tuber — an in- 

 crease caused by its greater amount of water. 

 When boiled it became black ; but when sub- 

 mitted to a dry heat of about two hundred 

 degrees it rapidly lost moisture, and the pro- 

 gress of the ulceration was retarded, if not 

 entirely stopped. 



There can be no preventive for such a dis- 

 ease as this — and the only chance of saving 

 the tubers is to mow off all the haulms close 

 to the ground the moment infection is appa- 

 rent in them. This might prevent the cir- 

 culation of the ichor to the tubers. These 

 should be taken up forthwith and clamped as 

 recommended by Dr. Lindley, with a layer 

 of earth or sand alternating with each layer 

 of potatoes. 



The disease seems to be the natural result 

 of an excessive degree of wet and cold, at 

 that period of closing growth when all bulbs 

 and tubers require an increased degree of 

 dryness and warmth. If the hyacinth, or 

 tulip, or dahlia are submitted to similar un- 

 propitious contingencies, their bulbs or tubers 

 similarly decay. 



It is not a new disease, for to a less extent 

 it has been frequently noticed before. The 

 best preservative of the tubers in such un- 

 genial seasons is to take them up, to dry 

 them perfectly, and then store them in a dry 

 shed in dry coal ashes. 



Much has been written on this subject, 



and the newspapers here and in Europe have 

 been filled with speculations as to its dura- 

 tion, &c. The failure to a considerable ex- 

 tent of the crop of the present year, (1846,") 

 would indicate that the disease is not of such 

 temporary character as had been hoped and 

 predicted. If it continue, all the old varie- 

 ties must necessarily be abandoned, and re- 

 liance placed on new ones, raised from the 

 seed proper ; therefore, as a matter of pre- 

 caution, we would recommend attention to 

 that object. They are readily produced by 

 carefully sowing the seed, and replanting 

 the young tubers in successive seasons, until 

 they attain full size. There is reason to 

 hope such would be free from disease, or at 

 any rate less liable to it, than the older va- 

 rieties. — LandretK's Dictionary of Garden- 

 ing. 



From the Horticulturist. 

 Are the Old Pears Extinct? 



I FURNISH, for the Horticulturist, a few 

 facts, relative to the condition of the White 

 Doyenne or Virgalieu pear, in western New 

 York. Having been familiar with this pear 

 for more than twenty-five years, and with its 

 uniform excellence, health and productive- 

 ness, I had never taken the trouble to remem- 

 ber any particular facts upon the subject; 

 supposing that, however worthless it might 

 prove in some localities, its vigour and fruit- 

 fulness in most places would never be ques- 

 tioned. I have, therefore, been compelled to 

 apply to some of my friends for additional 

 facts of a tangible nature, to demonstrate 

 what I had before taken for granted. 



So far as my own experience extends, I 

 may state that, during many years past, this 

 pear has generally been regarded as incom- 

 parably the best, for all qualities taken toge- 

 ther, throughout central and western New 

 York. During my business of raising trees 

 for dissemination, I have had more inquiries 

 for this variety than for all others put toge- 

 ther. Many of the most enterpri.^ing culti- 

 vators are planting large orchards, when 

 they can obtain them from the nurseries, 

 which are inadequate to supply the increas- 

 ing demands. The old bearing trees with 

 which I have been familiar, have regularly 

 produced several bushels annually, and I 

 have never seen a single specimen that did 

 not possess the fine rich flavor, and delicious 

 melting qualities, so conspicuous in this ex- 

 cellent variety. 



A few particular instances, taken very 

 much at random, may serve to exhibit defi- 

 nitely the productiveness of the tree. P. 

 Barry, of Rochester, informs me, on the au- 

 thority of H. N. Langworthy, that a tree, 

 measuring about eight inches in diameter, 



