62 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



in different parts of the country, of this variety 

 rotting less than most other kinds, yet in some 

 places it has rotted to considerable extent. 



The four varieties last named were not in our ex- 

 periment last year; which was by far the most se- 

 vere case of the rot. 



Sealsfoot. — They yield middling; the quality 

 excellent. Generally it has rotted but little; but 

 last season, the yield was very light, by reason of 

 the rust, and seven-fifteenths rotted. 



Orange or English Orange, Lafayette, Pink 

 Eye, Wait's Round, Hancock, Waterloo, Par- 

 ker, Cranberry and several other varieties yield 

 pretty well, and some of them arc tolerably hardy 

 against the rot; but they are usually hard, heavy 

 potatoes. If we had room, we would discriminate 

 more nicely as to these and several other kinds. 

 Last season four-fifths of the Cranberry rotted, and 

 all of the Lafayette. 



We have never known any variety of potato to 

 resist the rot perfectly, when it has been very se- 

 vere. The nearest to an escape was a seedling in 

 our experiment last season, which was the third 

 year from the seed, and had not rotted before. In 

 six pounds only one small potato was rotten. It is 

 yet doubtful about its yield, quality and hardiness. 

 Another seedling, of the same age, was but slight- 

 ly affected. Only half a pound rotted in eight 

 pounds. But generally our seedlings rotted as much 

 as our standard varieties. Many were all rotten. 



We have gone into this part of the subject at 

 length, as it is of much importance, and had proper 

 attention been paid to it, the farming community 

 would have saved to the amount of millions of dol- 

 lars in potatoes; and many consumers would have 

 found a good supply at moderate prices. We would 

 caution the cultivator about depending implicitly 

 on our statements as settling any points as to the 

 hardihood of different kinds, as the results of experi- 

 ments vary in seasons, with time of planting, &c. 

 Our object is to throw out some useful suggestions 

 that mav serve as a clue and lead to a more thoroufrh 

 investigation on this subject. 



A proper selection of soil for potatoes is an im- 

 portant consideration. We used to get our largest 

 and best crops of potatoes, especially in warm, sum- 

 mers, on rather moist, cool soils; but on such soils 

 the potato is very liable to rot. Sandy and grav- 

 elly soils, or light loams, should be preferred, where 

 heavy rains subside immediately. In a very few 

 cases only, potatoes have escaped the rot on wet 

 land, while they have generally decayed. This is 

 an exception to the general rule, and may be owing 

 to peat, or some preservative substance in the soil. 

 Manures have an important effect. All manures 

 thatare not well decomposed before applied, whether 

 animal or vegetable, are liable to ferment in the soil, 

 and produce too much heat, and rapid growth, ren- 

 dering the potato plant tender from its great luxuri- 

 ance, and more susceptible of disease. Therefore 



in applying manure not well decomposed, or an 

 abundance that is decomposed, it is better to mix it 

 with the soil generally, and not apply it in the hill, 

 lest it induce too rapid growth. 



Mineral manures, such as ashes, lime, salt, plast- 

 er, and also charcoal dust, soot, guano, and some 

 other specifics, have, apparently, at times been use- 

 ful in preventing the rot, and again they have failed, 

 so that we have nothing very satisfactory or con- 

 clusive on these points. They are still subjects for 

 further investigation. 



There is a great advantage in selecting for pota- 

 toes new lands fresh from the forest, or pasture 

 lands that have not been tilled recently, which re- 

 tain natural richness sufficient to yield a good 

 crop without manure. On such lands the potato is 

 not only less liable to rot than on old lands, hut the 

 quality is far better. We might arrange a rotation 

 of crops, so as to have a well decomposed sward as 

 a manure for the potato crop. 



One of the best preventatives of the potato rot is 

 early planting, by which the crop is grown during 

 favorable weather, and can generally be harvested 

 the latter part of August, when the weather is dry. 

 In such cases the crop generally keeps well. It is 

 a false view of the subject to omit digging till late, 

 in order that all that will rot, may rot before dig- 

 ging. There are cases in which potatoes are al- 

 ready decaying fast, and they may as well rot in the 

 ground as out of it, as digging will not arrest the 

 disease. 



By early planting the crop is generally matured 

 before the warm, wet or dog-day weather, which 

 is a great secondary cause of the disease, and with- 

 out which it will have but little effect. If potatoes 

 cannot be planted earl} , and are planted tolerably 

 early, there may be an advantage in planting early 

 kinds, that they may ripen before unfavorable weath- 

 er. 



Greening the seed by exposing it to the sun and 

 air, as reconmiended by Dr. Ilogan, in his interest- 

 ing article on this subject, in our last number, has 

 been practised to considerable extent and with good 

 results in England. It has also been considered a 

 useful practice, to dig the potatoes before quite ripe 

 that they may be more vigorous for seed. But lit- 

 tle attention has been given to changing seed in 

 this country for the purpose of preventing the rot, 

 as recommended by Dr. Hogan; yet a great many 

 changes have been made, in procuring new varie- 

 ties for experiment, and in using for seed potatoes 

 that have been sent a great distance to market. 



On the preservation of potatoes, we have room 

 for only a few remarks, though it is a prolific sub- 

 ject. They should be dug in dry weather, and ex- 

 posed to the sun or air till well dried. Much ex- 

 posure injures thequality very much. Then house 

 them in a dry cool place, spreading them for the 

 double purpose of preventing heating and rotting, 

 and affording a convenient opportunity of exarain- 



