346 



Disease of the Potatoe. — Bees. 



Vol. IX. 



ing the sentiments of the Society towards 

 your great nation. 



Alexander Djunkovsky, 



Knight and perpetual Secretary of the Society, actual 

 Counsellor of State of the Emperor of Russia. 



For the Farmers' Cabinet. 

 Disease of the Potatoe. 



heard learned men say, it is caused by an 

 unusually large quantity of caloric coming 

 in collision with a sudden and severe shower 

 of rain ; thereby creating a large quantity 

 of hydrogen and sulphuric acid gas. How 

 far these doctrines are correct, I will not 

 vouch — but suffice it to say, they seem to me 

 plausible, A Farmer. 



Honesdale, Pa., June 2. 



Mr. Editor : — In perusing the last num- 

 ber of your paper, I noticed an article over 

 the signature of Chemico; purporting to 

 give a correct reason for the cause of the 

 disease in potatoes — and, also proposing a 

 remedy. 



It is a well known fact, that the disease in 

 potatoes is of recent origin,* and, it is also 

 well known, that the soil in which they grow, 

 contains the same quantity of alkali, and no 

 less nitrogen than formerly. If a want of 

 the alkalies, or a redundant supply of " nitro- 

 genous matter," can be the only cause, then, 

 the disease might be confined to one district 

 alone ; but, observation, reports, and eviden- 

 ces from well authenticated sources, affirm 

 that the whole continent is alike affected : 

 even in Europe the potatoes have not escaped 

 the contagion. Lands, which now yield but 

 a poor and sickly crop of potatoes, a few 

 years ago brought an abundant harvest. It 

 has, furthermore, been ascertained, by men 

 of high professional repute, that potatoes 

 contain properties capable of accumulating 

 the alkalies, and repelling a redundancy of 

 nitrogen. Hence, it is easy to be seen, that 

 they are formed in such a peculiar way, as 

 to reject and throw off every substance det- 

 rimental to a vigorous and healthy growth. 



Where, then, lies the true cause? It must 

 be some uninvestigated agent, so powerful 

 in its nature, as to destroy the capability of 

 the repulsive properties, and so poisonous in 

 its effects, as to paralize the cellular organs, 

 so as to prevent their performing their allot- 

 ted task. Now, whatever may be the cause 

 of the disease, it certainly cannot be the 

 want, or the redundancy of the above men- 

 tioned properties, to which Chemico attri- 

 butes it. 



I have noticed, particularly, that the first 

 indications of the disease, commence in the 

 stalk; and, by an examination, I have found, 

 that the potatoes are fit for all culinary pur- 

 poses, even when the stalk assumes a dark, 

 rotten color, and emits a putrid odour. As 

 the disease follows down the stalk, the pota- 

 toe is at length affected, its health destroyed, 

 and it becomes a useless vegetable. I have 



Bees. 



I have often heard complaints of bees 

 going off soon after being hived, and the 

 owners could assign no reason. I have lost 

 several swarms in that way, but I have 

 learned how to prevent it. 



In the first place, never put a swarm of 

 bees into a hive made of green boards, nor 

 until it is well seasoned ; nor into a hive in 

 which there is any foul or musty smell. 

 The boards of which it is made should be 

 clean. Do not plane the boards for the inside 

 of the hive, unless to get off some extraor- 

 dinary roughness; and then do not make 

 them smooth. After hiving the swarm, raise 

 tlie hive a little, by putting under the bottom 

 small sticks, say as large as your little fin- 

 ger, to give them plenty of air. Then pro- 

 cure a quantity of green bushes, and lay 

 them over and around the hive, especially 

 on the sunny side. Then take half a pail 

 full of cold water, and spatter it all over and 

 around the hive, till the bushes are quite 

 wet. The bees will collect in the top of the 

 hive, and remain quiet. I have practiced 

 this method for many years, and have never 

 lost a swarm since I commenced it. It is 

 not necessary to rub the inside of the hive 

 with any kinds of herbs or leaves — it would 

 do more hurt than good. I commonly throw, 

 say a pint of water, into a hive, so as just 

 to wet the upper part, and sprinkle a little 

 salt into it. This I do to amuse the bees for 

 the time being, and to make them more con- 

 tented. 



It is not necessary to make any noise to 

 settle the swarm when they come out. They 

 will settle of their own accord. But it is 

 prudent to hive them as soon as convenient. 

 — Michigan Farmer. 



* The recent origin of this disease, is we think 

 doubtful — see the translation of a paper in the 7th No. 

 Of current vol. of Cabinet, page 212.— Ed. 



Gypsvm in South Carolina. — The Sou- 

 thern Agriculturist says "a specimen of 

 Gypsum was lately sent to Dr. Gibbes of 

 (Jolumbia, from, Mr. Ingraham's on Cooper 

 river. It resembles the gypsum of the Paris 

 basin, wliich is extensively quarried tor the 

 manufacture of plaster of Paris, and as the 

 geological position is the same, it is hoped 

 it will be found in abundance." 



