POTATO ROT. 645 



Farmer, J. B., Concord. Cause. — Atmosphere. Cure, (dis- 

 covered by accidental experiment.) Before planting spread 

 the potatoes on the surface, in the sun several days, until they 

 turn green. 



Flanders, Phanuel, Lowell, (four papers.) Cause. — Dark- 

 colored bug feeding on the leaf. Remedy. — Plant early. 

 When the vine is attacked, spread on the vines slack lime, or 

 lime wash. 



Fessenden, a. F., Lexington, having had considerable ex- 

 perience in raising potatoes, gives it as his decided conviction, 

 that scientific gentlemen who have written on the cause and 

 cure of the potato rot, have entirely overlooked the simple laws 

 of nature in which the cause is to be found. By accident, he 

 has been confirmed in an opinion he has long entertained. 



In 1860, in digging his field of potato s carelessly, he left 

 some potatoes in the ground, which field in 1851 he planted 

 with corn. Finding at hoeing time some scattering plants of 

 potatoes, he carefully preserved and cultivated them, which at 

 the time of digging produced sound, healthy, fine looking po- 

 tatoes, which continued free from any appearance of disease 

 whatever. This suggested to him the benefit of burying po- 

 tatoes, designed for planting, in a light, loose soil, at a sufiicient 

 depth to be free from the frost, and letting them remain till 

 wanted for planting. In this way they will retain their gen- 

 erative qualities and produce healthy plants. Drying potatoes 

 in the sun after digging, and then depositing them in large 

 heaps of fifty to one thousand bushels, in bins, causes them to 

 take heat, partially destroys their vitality, and of course, injures 

 them for planting. The practice is a violation of the laws of 

 vegetation, and has been continued till the crop has become a 

 failure. Potatoes should be buried in the ground below the 

 operation of the frost — not in large heaps, but in such manner 

 as to preserve the generative qualities of the plant, and the 

 laws of nature will work their own cure. The result of further 

 experiments will be given hereafter. 



