130 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



drevvs bought several fine animals of the Suffolk 

 breed, and has sent them to his friends in Hillsbo- 

 rough, N. H., with a view of improving the race 

 of hogs in tliat region. Mr. Lovering pays partic- 

 ular attention to raising the Suffolk pigs, and can 

 supply orders for them. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 THE POTATO ROT. 



Mr. Cole: — Dear Sir — If you are not burdened 

 with more important articles, waiting a place in 

 your valuable journal, a few thoughts on the pota- 

 to rot may be suggested to the readers of the N. 

 E. Farmer. Much, very much, has been written 

 and published on this subject. Wise men have 

 spoken, and shown their opinions. An unpretend- 

 ing individual would also throw in his mite. Al- 

 though it may weigh little, or naught, in the scale 

 of good, yet the reflection will remain, that he has, 

 with the best aim, done what he could. 



This insidious disease pervades not only the 

 American, but also the European continent. And 

 we cannot say what, if any parts, of the globe are 

 exempted from it. A remedy for the disease has 

 hitherto baffled all scientific researches, and eluded 

 the observations and experiments of practical farm- 

 ers. It still continues to stalk with fearful strides 

 over the earth. And a deep interest and concern 

 to effect a cure has become almost universal. And 

 well it may; for it would be very unwise and illaud- 

 able to cease from efforts to effect a remedy, unless 

 it can be demonstrated that this specific vegetable, 

 unlike any precedent in the vegetable kingdom, has 

 had its day, run its course, and is to become extinct. 



We perceive by tiie public journals, that the 

 Legislature of Massachusetts has offered a premi- 

 um of $10,000 for a cure of the potato rot, to en- 

 dure five consecutive years. We apprehend no le- 

 gitimate claim to that premium will ever issue, 

 for no remedy can ever be effected until the sub- 

 ject is taken up and carried out in the right way. 



The physical cause of the malady may be con- 

 sidered by the scientific classes as the great desid- 

 eratum. But suppose the cause were obvious, and 

 incontestible, what then? Would the remedy fol- 

 low, as a thing of course '\ Whether the cause be 

 in the tuber, the stalk, the atmosphere, or any 

 where else, still the remedy, not the cause, would 

 be the grand desideratum. How many diseases, 

 incident to the human system, baffle the efforts of 

 the most observing and skilful physicians to effect 

 a cure, while the causes are perfectly obvious. The 

 cause of cholera is supposed to be no longer hid- 

 den; but can its fatal attack be warded off, where a 

 predisposition to receive it exists ? This insidious 

 disease — the potato rot, like the pestilence that 

 walks in darkness, and wastes at noon-day, lies be- 

 yond the control of human agency alone. Enough 

 has been done already, it would seem, to convince 

 us of tlie inefficiency of physical means. To ex- 

 pect a cure, therefore, without the concurrence of 

 divine agency, is both vain and absurd. 



In concurrence with many serious, reflecting 

 minds, we apprehend the disease is involved in, and 

 predicated upon amoral cause — not coming upon us 

 as a vindictive scourge, but as a salutary means to 

 renew in us a vigorous and abiding sense of our 

 dependence — sent as a paternal corrective of the 

 sin of ingratitude — of wanton luxuriating in the 

 bounties of Providence, and vain boasting of our 



own prowess to control the elements of earth, and 

 force her to yield her increase at our bidding. A 

 state of invariable, boundless prosperity cannot be 

 sustained with equanimity of mind. It intoxicates 

 with pride; engenders a spirit of self-dependence; 

 leads to self-indulgence, and the vain imagination 

 that our own hands have gotten us all our wealth. 

 Jeshurum of old waxed fat, and lifted the heel 

 against his divine benefactor. 



It requires no keen observation or reflection to 

 perceive that the potato, like many other blessings, 

 which earth and heaven are lavishing upon us in 

 superabundance almost, was not duly appreciated 

 until the time of privation came. Then estimating 

 its value by the loss, we begin to feel a returning 

 of dependence. And, foresooth, all the skill of the 

 natural philosopher, the chemist and geologist, the 

 theoretical, practical and experimental farmer, are 

 put in requisition to remedy or ameliorate the dis- 

 ease. We do not say, nor mean to imply, that this 

 is not a laudalde course of procedure. Far from it. 

 But do say, that it lacks the most important and 

 preliminary step in the process, viz., a looking in 

 penitence, prayer and supplication to Him who 

 sent the disease, and who alone can control and re- 

 move — without whose benignant smiles not a blade 

 of grass, nor kernel of grain, nor field nor garden 

 vegetable can be made to grow, and arrive at ma- 

 turity. Intelligent, reflecting minds may dilate 

 this point of the subject at great length. But we 

 forbear; "a word to the wsse is sufficient." 



It may be asked by some why other productions 

 of the earth, of less easy culture, and less prolific 

 yield, are exempted? But the question is totally 

 irrelevant to the case; and resolved into the wis- 

 dom of the Almighty, whose paths are in the deep 

 and mighty waters, and whom none by searching 

 can find out. It is enough to know that a specific 

 calamity is upon us, which fills many with deep, 

 solemn concern, and may justly fill all with fearful, 

 trembling apprehension. But the time to despair, 

 we trust, is not yet. The bow of promise is still 

 in the cloud. To plant and cultivate with industry, 

 patience, and cheerfulness, all the varieties of seeds, 

 not excluding the potato, even, is an obvious and 

 imperative duty. But let us not vainly imagine 

 that planting and cultivating is our whole duty. 

 The higher duty of firm reliance on our divine ben- 

 efactor to give the increase, has been, we fear, too 

 much and too generally overlooked already. To 

 continue such a course will have no direct tenden- 

 cy to avert a general blast on the productions of the 

 earth; much less to obviate the one now prevalent. 

 We have indulged the hope that, like many annoy- 

 ing insects, which stayed their appointed time, and 

 then became extinct, the potato disease, after effect- 

 ing the moral purpose for which it is sent, would 

 disappear and be seen no more. 



Thus we have stated, as we apprehend, the best 

 and most feasible remedy for the potato disease. 

 But we would by no means enter the list of those 

 who may compete for the offered premium. Being 

 on the threshold of four score years, we hardly dare 

 indulge a personal interest in the prospective issue 

 of that proposition. But should it be our lot to 

 stay to see the millions of farmers restored to a 

 competent supply of that most valuable vegetable 

 esculent — the potato, we should rejoice with un- 

 speakably greater joy than at the reception of 

 thousands and tens of thousands of silver and gold. 



March 26, 1851. An Eastern Farmer] j 



