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to produce the potato rot. The parasite that causes the 

 potato rot delights in a Avarm, close, humid atmosphere 

 that frequently follows a rain. When a field of potatoes, 

 planted either early or late, is in its most vigorous 

 growth, just before the tubers begin to ripen, if such a 

 condition of the weather then occurs, this parasite will 

 be produced. The more dense the growth of vines the 

 more liable to an attack, and it will commence in that 

 part of the field where the growth is most vigorous, and 

 will rapidly spread over the whole, unless a change in 

 the weather takes place. Some varieties of potatoes 

 are more susceptible to it than others. If the tops are 

 cut close to the ground, when first attacked, the pota- 

 toes may be saved ; otherwise, in a few days, they be- 

 come more or less diseased, and decay rapidly follows, in 

 which case it is better to leave the potatoes in the 

 ground until those affected are entirely decayed. A 

 portion of the crop may thus be saved, for if dug be- 

 fore that time the whole will be lost. 



It will be seen from what has been said, that if you 

 plant the rows wide apart, or alternate with some other 

 crop, in order to have the vines more open, they will be 

 less liable to an attack. 



Many theories have been advanced, from time to time, 

 as to the cause and prevention of these serious hinder- 

 ances to the fiirmer's success ; but none as yet have 

 proved satisfactory. Every one, however, knows that 

 under certain conditions mould, which is a vegetable 

 growth, will certainly appear ; that|on a bank of earth 

 and stable manure, prepared in a certain way, under 

 suitable circumstances, mushrooms will surely grow. A 

 pot of earth placed in mid-winter under the drip of a 

 green house, will in a short time produce a very beauti- 

 2 



