POTATO ROT. 655 



Brittain, John, Newark, N. J., contends that the disease is 

 inherited by the potato, which may preserve the appearance 

 of soundness before planting, from year to year, and that in 

 the great variety of soils, all of which contain more or less of 

 the ingredients which corrupt the potato, much attention is re- 

 quisite. The unfavorable qualities in the soil should be neu- 

 tralized. 



His remedy is one table spoonful of common soot, same 

 quantity of pulverized flower of sulphur, and as much carbon- 

 ate of ammonia or hartshorn, as can lay on a ninepenny piece, 

 applied to the top of the manure in each hill. 



BoGERT, Mrs. Thomas L., Utica, N. Y. Experimeni. — In 

 1S46, several potatoes much affected with the rot, having a 

 few sound eyes remaining, were found, on examination by a 

 microscope, to be covered with innumerable living creatures. 

 The potatoes were preserved, and at plnting time well washed 

 and well sprinkled over with air-slacked lime, as in the prepara- 

 tion of wheat, and then planted about three feet from the main 

 field, after throwing into each hill a handful of lime. When 

 dug, every potato was sound, fair and smooth. Since then the 

 potato-fields have been manured with lime, to destroy the grub, 

 and found to be much improved, while neighboring fields were 

 not v/orth digging. 



Remedy. — Wash the potatoes, throw over them slacked lime 

 so as to cover them, as in the preparation of wheat, then plant. 



Croft, Thomas, New Orleans, La., claims to have discovered 

 a remedy, but refers to his manuscript, at the Patent Oflice, in 

 Washington, for the particulars. 



Dawson, J. W., Pictou, N. S., Superintendent of Education 

 in Nova Scotia, &c., furnishes a very able, interesting, scien- 

 tific, and carefully-written essay, which, for the benefit of the 

 public, it would be well to publish entire ; but important parts 

 of which, in this limited abstract, it is necessary to omit. His 

 treatment of " the nature, causes, and prevention of the failure 

 of the potato crop," is more full perhaps, than that of any other 



