76 HAMPDEN SOCIETY. 



poor man's bread and the rich man's luxury. Nutritious, pal- 

 atable and cheap, it seems to have been adapted by a kind 

 Providence as a sufficient resort, in all climates and regions of 

 the habitable globe, in comparison with which all other bread- 

 3 are but fancy brands. We say bread-stuffs, because it 

 is well ascertained that the farina or flour of potatoes is the best 

 produced from any plant, and is used in larger quantities by 

 the bakers in Paris, where the superiority of the bread and 

 pastry, over any other European city, has long been proverbial. 



It is therefore important that all the varieties, habits, and 

 modes of culture of this esculent, and the diseases to which it is 

 liable, should be well studied and carefully noted. That there 

 yet remains much to be learned in relation to its character and 

 mode of cultivation, is evident from the fact, that it occasionally 

 yields a crop of six or seven hundred bushels to the acre, whilst 

 the average is much less than half that quantity. We should 

 never forget that what has been done can be done again, and 

 although the season has much to do with it, still, if a large yield 

 has once been had, it is safe to calculate that the same soil, seed 

 and tilth will produce the like again. But in order that we 

 may have the results to any extent under our own control, the 

 science of agriculture, in all its hidden recesses and wonderful 

 mysteries, needs to be explored. To stimulate and promote 

 these inquiries, nothing has ever done more than the establish- 

 ment of agricultural societies. 



Up to this time, the disease of the potato, which has pre- 

 vailed so extensively of late, has baffled all human discernment. 

 All sorts of conjectures are afloat, but, verily, nothing more. 

 One learned writer, however, has come to the conclusion, that 

 it is owing to a parasite fungus or mushroom striking its roots 

 into the fruit ; and a sensible farmer of our own county is 

 quite sure that it is because there has not been sufficient thunder 

 and lightning to purify the air. Your committee, at present, 

 feel disposed to impute it to ill health in that vegetable, and re- 

 commend smart treatment and thorough experiments to find 

 out the remedy. Let the seed be brought from healthy regions, 

 and never suffered to lie in such masses and in such situations, 

 as to take on the least degree of fermentation. 



