44 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Rev. Mr. Sanger, of Dover, said that his views 

 on this subjcat coiTesponded with those of the gcii- 

 tlemaii who had just spoken. His potatoes did not 

 rot on dry land, but they did on wet. lie used 

 peat exposed to frost, and made into compost. In 

 preserving potatoes, ihcy should be kept in a dry, 

 cool place, separated from each other, or well 

 spread (nit. 



Hon. Caleb dishing, of Newbury, on being 

 called on, said that his views were crude. As to 

 the cause of this disease all was uncertain. He 

 doubted that fungus was the cause, as it may bo 

 an effect instead of a cause; for it usually fastens 

 iiself on decaying plants. One finds fumigation a 

 cure, another does not. One finds saline substance 

 a remedy, another rot. What is the roti The 

 tuber is decomposed. What is the origin ? We 

 understand the decay of a variety, but not of a 

 species. The St. Michael Pear and other fruits 

 have declined and run out; and a whole species or 

 genus may decline. The potato is not indigenous 

 to the United States; but its native region is the 

 whole range of the Andes. In its native climate it 

 is free from the extremes of heat, and it has its 

 native cool soil, without high culture and manur- 

 ing. Plants have a natural adaptation to climate 

 or soil. You may, by a change of circum.stances, 

 such as high culture, make what is called an im- 

 provement in some respects, but you may by this 

 change destroy the plant. There is now a new 

 field of exploration open before us. The native 

 r<\gion of the potato should be examined to ascer- 

 tain whether the disease prevails there, and if not, 

 roots and seeds should be procured for experiment 

 in this country. Mr. Gushing suggested that this 

 society pre,sent a memorial to the President of the 

 United States to instruct our Ministers and Consuls 

 to procure the potato from its native regions. 



Hon. J. W. Proctor, of Danvers, President ol 

 the Essex Agricultural Society, was called up, and 

 he remarked that he was not prepared to enter 

 upon the discussion of the subject; but he would 

 relate the result of his observations. The farmers 

 in Essex County lost nearly all their crops of jio- 

 latoes the last season. Various experiments had 

 b.^en made to fin.d out a remedy for tlie disease; 

 but without success. x\ farmer in Salem ploughed 

 dry sandy land, and applied as manure leached 

 ashes, lime, and plaster. Early in the season, 

 the potatoes looked very promising, but in au- 

 tumn tliere was an entire failure. In some hills 

 tliere were no potatoes, in others, there were a 

 few, and they wore rotten. In Methuen a fiirmer 

 that thought all depended on the soil, selected a 

 piece of rat'.ior dry yellow loam, and made it 

 moderately rich by manuring broadca.xt. His crop 



was better than hia neighbors. He had another be well decomposed and spread broadcnst; and thi; 



roots of the plants and on the vines. The subject 

 is highly important, as some farmers lose as much 

 as the usual profit of their farms. 



Hon. Mr. French, of Braintree, said that ho 

 should be happy to tlirow some light on the sub 

 ject, if he could; but no mode of culture can be 

 named that has invariably succeeded. The kind 

 of potato first diseased on his place, was the Ab 

 ington Blue or Veto. The dark colored potatoes 

 were most affected at first, and then the white; but 

 this season the while varieties were mostly de- 

 stroyed, while the Long Johns (Long Reds, Rep.) 

 had done the best. As to wet seasons being the 

 cause, we had as wet seasons years ago, before 

 this disease prevailed. He thought if the tops 

 were cut off just before the disease came on, it 

 would save the potatoes. He thought the disease 

 usually begins about the 20lh of August; and fre- 

 quently they rot the most from that time to the 

 1st of September. Iiast year he examined his po- 

 tatoes about the 20th of August. The tops just 

 began to show a little discoloration. He went 

 away, and on his return in ten days he found that 

 nearly all his potatoes were rotten. He set a man 

 to dig some in the fall, and he worked most of a day 

 where he ought to have had 1000 bushels, and he 

 did not get a bushel, and those were small. No 

 remedy can be named, but what has failed in some 

 cases. Potatoes had been procured from Chili, its 

 native country, and planted in this country, and we 

 have heard no favorable report from them. There 

 is some safety in planting early, and digging be- 

 fore the 20th of August. The variety called La- 

 dies' Fingers have generally escaped the disease. 

 HilPs Early have usually done well, but they rot- 

 ted the last season. We may yet find a remedy. 



Rev. Mr. Barry, of Hanover, said that he ploughed 

 an acre of asli-colored loam last spring. On one 

 half, in which was a gravelly hill, he spread well 

 decomposed manure from the barn-yard, harrowed 

 it, and planted with Chenangoes. On the other 

 half he applied plaster, and planted Long Reds. 

 The vines grew luxuriantly, and were green in No- 

 vember. He dug only 6 or 8 bushels where the 

 land was manured; they rotted on the gravelly 

 knoll as on the other parts; but on the half not ma- 

 nured, he obtained 50 busliels of sound potatoes. 

 Last fall he fumigated a part of his Long Reds, a« 

 directed by Dr. Hayes, and many of them rotted 

 But he placed a part of them in a dark, cool, dry 

 part of the cellar, without fumigation, and they 

 kept well. The crop had almost wholly failed the 

 past ye.'ir, in his soction. He thought there wero 

 some general rules that might be followed tu 

 advantage. He would plant early, on dry, loamy 

 soil, preferring greensward. The manure should 



piece on reclaimed meadows, planted on ridges. 

 The crop was blighted, and the owner attributed 

 the blight to insects, as slugs were found about the 



later they are dug, the better they will keep. He 

 thought that fungus was an effect, not the cause of 

 the disease. 



