606 THANSACTIONS OF THE 



planted. The common potato may be raised from sprouts in the 

 same way, but I think with diminished profit. 



Solon Robinson read another letter from Vergennes, Vt., April 

 19, from F. W. Coe, which states the following theory in regard 

 to preventing the potato rot : 



"As soon as the disease manifests itself by the dying of the 

 leaves, go immediately and pull up and remove all of the vines, 

 either to the compost heap or to burn them. If any of the pota- 

 toes come up with the stalks, crowd them back into the hill and 

 cover them with earth, leaving them there to mature in quality 

 until time for digging. Dr. Ingham, of this place, says that 

 through his suggestion, the past year, he has witnessed this ex- 

 periment in some six different cases, and in every case with per- 

 fect success, there not being a single rotten potato in the rows 

 thus treated, while the others in the same fields, left as usual, were 

 almost wholly destroyed by rot — and also that the quality of the 

 potato does not appear injured by this treatment." 



The letter also stated that it had been noticed that the tubers 

 growing nearest the stalks rotted first, while those furthest re- 

 moved remained sound. 



Dr. "Water bury — The man might just as well dig his potatoes 

 as to leave them in the hill, since they will grow no more after 

 the stalks are removed. 



The Chairman suggested that it was probably intended only to 

 remove the diseased stalks. 



Mr. Bergen remarked, that that corresponded with a fact con- 

 nected with the rot on Long Island last year, which was quite 

 damaging and extensive. A local variety called the Algeo, nearly 

 or quite escaped the disease. The seed has been in high demand 

 this year. The tubers on the vines of this variety spread them- 

 selves very much through the ground, many of them leaving the 

 hill entirely and are found in some instances nearly two feet from 

 the roots of the vines. They are more troublesome to dig on this 

 account. It is a suggestion that may be of jDractical value. 



Prof. Nash — Nothing can shake my opinion in favor of planting 

 large tubers for seed. In my opinion the want of proper food in 

 the soil is often, if not always, the cause of the potato rot, as well 



