POTATO ROT. 639 



a dissolution of the physical organism, and of course, there must 

 be disease. The theory v/hich Mr. B. intends to establish is, 

 that if fungi are present in the diseased potato, they are there 

 because the tubers are previously in a condition suited to aftbrd 

 them aliment — that is, they are already in an unhealthy, en- 

 feebled condition. That condition is old age. The potato 

 has for the most part been propagated from sets or buds, for a 

 long course of years. Occasionally some have been raised 

 from the seed, but mostly from the eyes of the tuber, which is 

 only an extension of the same individual life, not a produc- 

 tion of new life. In addition to this, it has been subject to a 

 forced cultivation, in a climate not indigenous. These con- 

 ditions would be likely to have much effect in shortening life. 

 Though, therefore, the immediate disease may be connected 

 with fungi, the ultimate cause is old age — the disorder to be 

 remedied. This opinion the author published in an agri- 

 cultural paper in the year 1845-6. Since then, statements 

 have been published to show that some potatoes recently from 

 seedlings have taken the disease. This does not invalidate 

 the above opinion, though at first it might seem to have that 

 effect. For if a plant is raised from a seed, which was pro- 

 duced by a diseased or very aged parent, it would be almost as 

 liable to disease, as a bud taken from the old stock. The 

 theory here advanced is founded in an immutable law of na- 

 ture, attached to all forms of life, and all organized matter ; 

 and that law is dissolution. 



In the Farmer's Encyclopedia, 1844, art. Canker, it is said, 

 although young trees are liable to this disease, yet old age is 

 the period most obnoxious to its attacks. Notice, it is not a 

 young tree which has been lately grafted. If the tree, from 

 which the scion has been taken, is an old variety, it is only 

 the multiplication of an aged individual. The scion may, for 

 a few years, exhibit signs of increased vigor, owing to the 

 abundant supply of healthy sap from the stock, but tha scion 

 will afterward become as decrepid as the parent tree. The 

 unanimous experience of naturalists agree in testifying that 

 every organized creature has its limit of existence. In plants 

 it varies from a few months to as many centuries ; but of all, 

 the days are numbered. 



