No. 133. J 299 



potatoes was removed — that such of them as we re attacked would 

 soou perish in tlie earih, and could not there afiect the sound ones; 

 whereas, if all the potatoes were dug up at once, and put togeth- 

 er, the rotted ones would rapidly spoil the good oneSj and such is 

 the result of Colonel Houghton's experience for the last five 

 years. 



Professor Mapes remarked that the lacing of the leaves wss 

 the work of a flyj the leaves heing so injured the potatoes begin 

 a ne\r growth. I dig them tlien to prevent it. I|; is strange that 

 the mite in question should bo found in some sorts of potatoes 

 only. My early June potatoes were never attacked until last 

 year, together with the mercers and carters. My mammoth nut- 

 megs are yet perfectly sound. Roots of all kinds are apt to rot 

 one another. All rotten ones must be removed. This is true of 

 most vegetables. We always take out the bad ones — nothing 

 i)ew in that. We sometimes find, them keep well until January 

 in our cellars, and then begin to fail. In that case we find our 

 succeeding crop diseased. I have applied in the hills of my po- 

 tatoes pure charcoal dust from the spark catchers of locomotives. 

 This has some potash with it. I proved it to be a good applica- 

 tion by the effect seen in omitting to put it in some hills. It ap- 

 peared to give entire protection to my potatoes. No one disputes 

 the beneficial efTccts of charcoal on the potato crop. Salt is also 

 very good. I put it on to kill the white grubs. 



Colonel Ilonghton — I suppose I shall be laughed at for attempt- 

 ing, in face of such a world of experiment and learning, all of 

 which have failed to propose my remedy; but, as I im'pliciiy be- 

 lieve I have succeeded, and with the hope of doing an immcnso 

 service to my fellow men, I brave the laughing and earnestly ask 

 others to try my plan. 



Professor Ma-pes — This subject is too important and serions to 

 be a matter of ridicule. Suppose that all plans hitherco have 

 failed, does it become us to give up in despair? No. Let us go 

 on with all practice and aU our science, and try again and again. 

 S4imc of my neighbors put raw muck in the hill or furrow. My 

 whole potatoes, cultivated flat, giveme a more even growth of Ru- 

 bers, and more of them. I know more than fifty persons who have 



