56 THE POTATO CROP. 



Quot homines, tot sentential, has been fully verified. 

 There has been no lack of remedies offered, but no cure 

 effected. If we incline to the belief that the disease first 

 exists in the above-ground stem, and thence is transmitted 

 more or less quickly to the tubers below, the most rational 

 treatment appears to be to separate the two parts, as 

 speedily as possible after any indications of the disease 

 have been observed, by pulling the stems up, and either 

 leaving the tubers in the soil, or removing them, as may be 

 most convenient. In pulling them the labourer should be 

 directed to stand over the plant, and place a foot on each 

 side of it, so as to separate and effectually to pull up every 

 portion of the stem, without disturbing the position of the 

 tubers. In this case, of course, the growth of the tubers is 

 entirely arrested, but, if not previously infected, they will 

 remain sound and good in their immature state. 



If the seeds of the disease be supposed to exist in the 

 tuber, and to be carried up from it to the stem in the 

 ascending sap, the only remedial measures that can be ad- 

 ministered must be at the period of sowing or planting, as 

 any after treatment can be of no avail. The use of sulphur, 

 which has been found so efficient in arresting the progress of 

 the grape fungus, has been recommended, both abroad and at 

 home, as a remedy against the potato fungus, when applied 

 to the "sets" at the time of planting. If carefully managed, 

 the moisture of the incised surfaces of the sets will cause a 

 coat of sulphur to adhere to them ; a little more dusted over 

 the other portions, will b,e sufficient. In an experimental 

 trial 1 (1857), the results obtained were more favourable to 



1 " As the experiment was strictly comparative, the results may afford evi- 

 dence of some value beyond the mere question of sulphur application. From 

 a heap of ' Regents,' a certain quantity of small-sized potatoes (chats), such 

 as are usually sold for planting, and also of full-sized mature tubers, were 

 selected, care being taken that they were all free apparently from disease. 

 The small potatoes were planted whole, whereas the others were cut into sets, 

 one portion of which was planted in that state, while to the other portion 

 sulphur was applied, being carefully dusted over the whole surface. They 



