3C0 [Assembly 



trous in its effects; as in cme or two of the countries named, the faiK 

 ure of the potato produced famine; when here if there were not a 

 single one raised, and the other crops usually good, it would not 

 create famine, although it might be much missed; than in the coun- 

 tries above named, in Europe, or perhaps in the w«rld were pro- 

 duced crops of this root equal to them, and certainly not superior 

 in quantity and quality in ordinary good seasons before this disease 

 appeared. Mr. B., after stating very truly that it would be " diffi- 

 cult to name any production of the earth that yields full and perfect 

 crops annually; asks, why then should we expect uniformly good 

 potato crops twice in one year?" we do not expect it, and very few 

 get them in our country, since the disease appeared; some with the 

 greatest care cannot get one; and " in the temperate climate of 

 England," and some other countries of Europe, it is considerably 

 worse. 



The truth is, there is no ground for such an expectation, nor shouM 

 we think it could exist at this time to any extent either here or there. 

 To show the capricious character of this disease more strongly, and 

 that it is unlike any other which afflicts other fruits and plants in 

 certain seasons, we will enumerate some of the remedies which have 

 been tried and their results 



Some have planted the root early, others late in the season — 

 the tops have been mown or cut off at certain periods — alkaline 

 remedies have been used in different shapes, ashes, lime, soda"; &c. — 

 most mineral and putrescent manures have been tried, and in every 

 way, and in time most of them discarded — the seeds or balls have 

 been planted — new varieties of the plant have been obtained from^ 

 distant neighborhoods, where the disease had not prevailed to much 

 extent, and which were supposed to be free from the infection, accor- 

 ding to the old fashion practiced before this malady was known, and 

 always with success, of changing seed when an old one was supposed 

 to be degenerated, or worn or run oat by long use in the same 

 locality. Others have sent to foreign countries where the blight had 

 never appeared, to procure a virgin seed and to plant it as near as 

 they could in a virgin soil — all have failed — on the application of some 

 of these the crop has been a fair one: perhaps the next season when 

 used in the same localities, and under the same circumstances, there 

 was^n most cases partial, and in some a total failure. These freaks 

 and changes in the disease and results of the remedies, muit be fami- 

 liar to all who have paid any attention to the subject. Early planting. 



