POTATO ROT. 671 



Morrill, Philip, Glenburn, Me., in a printed communica- 

 tion, makes several inquiries, as to residence required, &c., and 

 professes to have discovered the cause, but does not state it. 



Morrow, John S., Newville, Pa., in a wel] written and in- 

 teresting communication, seems to agree in sentiment with 

 Mr. Dawson, and some other sensible writers, that one great 

 cause of the failure in the potato crop, is want of renewal of 

 the seed. Too long a production from the same stock has 

 caused the plant, like an old tree, or ingraftings from old trees, 

 to become worn out by age. As to remedy he says, — '' The 

 only way, therefore, to avoid the potato rot is to renew the 

 vigor of the plant, which is all that is wanted, by growing 

 fresh seed taken from the potato apple, and the writer will 

 vouch for th2 experiment. 



" In the summer of 1848, I grew some small potatoes from 

 the apple, (or natural seed,) and in the Sj.ring of 1849 I planted 

 the neio seed in my lot, in a row parallel with and adjoining 

 other rows planted with old seed. When the product of the 

 old seed was uncovered, the rows presented a mass of decom- 

 posed matter, which emitted a very offensive smell. On open- 

 ing the row in which the new seed was planted the potatoes 

 were found to be matured, healthy and vigorous. In 1850 I 

 made a similar experiment with the same seed, and found a 

 similar result." 



Nicholson, Joseph, Millerstown, Pa., writes to obtain infor- 

 mation. 



OsTRANDER, R. T., Gcncva, Walworth County, Wis., recom- 

 mends planting on the top of the soil, and covering with straw, 

 without hilling or ev3n stirring the ground more than to keep 

 down the weeds. " Never plant in a hollow, or with loose soil 

 beneath, and your crop will be certain." 



Page, Benjamin, near Massilon, Ohio, recommends the use 

 of plaster of Paris, or gypsum, as a preventive. He says : 

 "In 1850, while planting my potatoes, I tried lime, charcoal. 



