13.—1846.] THE 
AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE. 
211 
the Potato was a fungus ; a periola, it may be, which 
has usually its habitat here, and is, besides, very elosely 
lied to the Spermoódia, "The general opinion, however, 
is that the ergot.is caused by a perverted growth of the 
ovary, owing to the growth on its surface of myriads of 
Sporidia of an Ergotætia, or what might rather be viewed 
as an Oidium ; and of a like nature may be that of the 
Potato. The ergotized grain has been noticed by Mr. 
Latham to be of late extending very much, and 1 have 
found it in habitats (Poa fluitans, for instance,) not 
formerly considered such. Among other predisposing 
causes, some have mentioned, as giving rise to the dis- 
ease, exoticism, and the tendency of plants, when eulti- 
vated otherwise than by the seeds, to wear out. The 
former cannot be the cause, since the disease was as 
prevalent in the country where the Potato is indigenous 
as it was here, and that this plant, cultivated by buds, 
divisions of stems, &e., should on that account wear out 
is not more probable than that our fruit trees, which 
are cultivated by precisely the same means, should also 
Wear out, and this, the experience of many centuries 
shows not to have been the case. As fungi, in them- 
selves and theirsporoles, are evanescent in their nature, 
as they grow and develope in a different way from all 
other vegetables, andbave their existence apparently often 
from extraneous causes, and, most of all, the meteorolo- 
gical or other conditions of the atmosphere, there are 
no grounds for fearing a renewal of the disease by plant- 
ing the diseased tubers. If the disease should re-appear, 
it must be from the recurrence of the varied circum- 
Stances, atmospheric and others, that act in causing it. 
» Correspondence. 
Drainage-—A few months ago, a tenant requested 
that I would drain for him a Lea-field of about 64 
acres ; I consented, but at the same time desired that 
the drains should be 3 to 34 feet deep—he paying 5 per 
cent. on the cost. I have lately received a letter from 
him, in which he states “I have men draining the 
field at present, and we find a very bad subsoil, it being 
avery hard hungry sand. e are using 3-inch tiles 
open at the bottom, and for the main drains 4 and 
6-inch tiles. We have no pipe-tiles in our neighbour- 
hood ; where there is a soft place we flag them at the 
bottom ; we find most water about 2 feet 3 inches 
deep ; we have bored 4 or 5 feet deep, but found no 
water. The pasture here mostly lies on a hard bottom, 
and will not dry far. We are draining every 8 yards 
2 feet 6 inches deep ; to cut them any deeper the men 
Would want a great price ; several of the men have left 
US on account of its being so hard, and, I think, we 
would not benefit by it. The surface soil is mosily a 
blackish sand, but there are two or three different 
kinds in it, and it is about 6 inches in depth." I wrote 
to a gentleman supposed to have considerable expe- 
rience in that neighbourhood, to look at the land and 
give me his opinion, as I thought my tenant was not 
draining deep enough. His reply is * The field has 
a very indifferent subsoil—white sand mixed with a black 
roach ; it is a hard cinder, and 2 feet 6 inches is quite 
deep enough.” ‘There-is another field of a similar de- 
scription, only having a deeper surface-soil, drained a 
ew years ago, 18 inches deep and 14 yards apart, 
which I am asked to re-drain, the old ones being use. 
less. I have consented, provided the drains are laid 
from 3 to 4 feet deep between each of the old ones. 
But here again I am met with the objection that “ 2 
feet deep is quite enough; there is not subsoil to go 
any deeper, nor would it be any more improvement by 
bringing any more sand to the face ; it has too much, 
being a black top mixed with sand.” Pray, sir, can 
you advise me what I should do? If 18-inch drains 
are nearly useless, will 24-inch ones be much better, 
and worth the cost, and would not 40-inch drains have 
been better in the first case?—A Small Cumberland 
andowner, but no Farmer. [It may be depended on 
as true (1), that, wherever practicable (the expense of 
the operation in some cases may make it impracticable), 
drains should be at least 3 feet deep ; (2), that drain- 
tiles shouid always (except when lying on rock) be 
Placed on soles; and (3), that the tiles used need not be 
of a larger section than will suffice to carry off in a day 
say twice the largest known fall of rain during that 
period. Now,as regards the first point, we cannot give 
àn opinion on the impracticability of the subsoil with- 
out seeing it. re the men required to use the 
pickaxe ? if so, 30.inches may be as deep as, consider- 
Ing the expense, it may be expedient to go; but we 
Would let nothing that could properly be designated 
Only “ hard sand” hinder us from getting at least 3 
eet. As regards the second, you should insist on soles 
for your tiles throughout, except where they rest on 
rock, As regards the third point, we consider that for 
Your wet climate a tile of 3 or, at most, 4 square inches 
in the section amply sufficient ; 3-inch tiles open at the 
bottom, will be of 6 or 7 inches’ section, and are unneces- 
Sarily large.] 
On’ Soiling Cattle, &c.—ln No. 11, there is a sensi- 
ble paper by Mr. Baker, of Whitehaven, upon soiling. 
he writer fully agrees with every word that gentleman 
as said upon that, most important subject; he last year 
ept 21 steers and cows in the house all the summer ; 
these beasts consumed the produce of 4 acres of 
Vetches, half an acre of Cabbage, and 7 acres of 
gading Grass, between 2d May and lst September. 
ome 30 years ago the writer was in Cumberland, and 
Went to see the large herd of cattle, &c., at Mr. Cur- 
nee S farm, Workington Hall; as far as he recollects 
T. C. kept 60 milch cows (short horns) to supply the 
town of Workington withjmilk ; there were upon the 
same farm nearly 200 young cattle and oxen, and he 
was told by the bailiff that the number of horses at the 
collieries supplied with food from this farm was upwards 
of 200 ; the whole stock was kept in the house all the 
year round, and the writer well remembers the beauti- 
ful condition the horned stock, except the working oxen 
(which were made to work two in a team at plough, 
and were overworked) were in, when he visited the farm 
in the month of August. All the Grass land upon this 
farm of 1000 aeres was 6 acres of water meadow. 
Now, as Mr. Baker lives so near this farm, will he be 
kind enough to tell us if the same system is adopted at 
the present time, with the result. One word upon 
thin sowing: the writer feels greatly indebted to Mr. 
Hewitt Davis for his manly and straightforward manner 
in stating his practice, and cannot but lament to see a 
gentleman coming forward to serve his country as Mr. D. 
has done, attacked by men who really do not understand 
his system, or will not condescend to try to farm as they 
ought, by keeping their land clean, and in a high state 
of cultivation. The writer has for a great number of 
years planted early in the season about the same quan- 
tity as Mr. Davis, and uniformly with satisfactory re- 
sults. Some years ago, his then bailiff was an advocate 
for thick sowing, and asked to sow an acre of Wheat 
with 3 bushels of seed, against the quantity he was then 
planting, which was 1 bushel per acre, the writer feeling 
convinced that even.half a bushel, or 4 gallors per acre 
dibbled was sufficient, he had an acre between the other 
lots planted with that quantity; soon after harvest, 
his bailiff in a sorrowful mood brought in the account 
that the 4 gallons dibbled beat his 3 bushels by 2 bushels, 
but that the 8 gallons beat the dibbled by just the same 
quantity ; he, however, admitted, that had the dibbled 
not been so repeatedly eaten off by rabbits in the winter, 
and been hoed thrice instead of once, the result would 
have been in favour of the dibbled.—R. 
Electvo-Culture, and the Potato Disease.—By Dr. 
Forster’s remarks in the Agricultural Gazette of the 
l4th inst, upon the ‘statement of the Rev. Edwin 
temperature of 90? to 1009 or more in Uctoler and 
November is not the way to give the Potato its neces- 
sary quietus; at least it is not Nature's own way of 
doing the business. Ifthe gardener were to bury the 
shoots of his forced Vines in fermenting matter at a 
pitch of 909 or 100° the moment they were removed 
from hisforcing-house,what would be said? Yet our great 
physiologists seem to argue that a bud, whether on an 
underground stem, a surface one, or even a seed, are 
all amenable to certain general laws which cannot be 
ong transgressed without serious consequences. Another 
evil, of no-mean character, connected with the fermen- 
tation affair, is the total loss in many eases of the first 
sprouts, Now this of itself would be enough to cause 
many plants to degenerate. When, then, I say, in 
conclusion, the above circumstances are taken fully into 
consideration, with the addition of the cloudy and damp 
weather of the past summer, all tending to immaturity 
and weakness of constitution, who ean wonder that these 
accumulated evils have at last reached a crisis? Pota- 
toes for seed should be planted especially for seed, 
should be housed for seed, and should be reared on no 
account in low, damp, or shaded fields. Depend on it, 
the hill-tops are the most legitimate seed nurseries. 
Indeed, in my opinion, causes are at work, which be- 
fore many years have passed away, will show the high 
lands in general to be the situation for all green crops, 
and the valleys for pasturage—A Voice from the 
Gardens. 
Sale of Corn by Weight.—In the small markets of 
some parts of this country, the law which regulates the 
sale of corn by measure and not by weight is utterly 
despised, and dealers refuse to purchase, except with 
the guarantee of 70 lbs. to the bag (or bushel) of Wheat. 
The farmers being poor, and the competition great, 
they yield to the great corn-dealers’ wishes, and make 
him a present of a peck of corn on each bag of Wheat 
sold, "The Liverpool market also appears to be regu- 
lated by weight. and not by imperial measure, but there 
the price is always in proportion. In this neighbour- 
hood (North Devon) London prices are quoted by corn 
n 
Sydney, lam led to make a few observations. Last 
and country prices given for corn, always 
f 
year l tried various experi upon the applicat 
of electricity to various crops, and am much pleased 
with the result of those made upon Potatoes. I found 
a considerable increase, in tubers, and in haulm in 
particular. The haulms were from 6 to 8 inches long) 
than others not electrified. The difference was so 
much greater, that many people doubted at the time 
whether the increased produce was not owing to some 
other cause ; consequently, I did not feel disposed to 
publish any account of my experiments until after I 
had again given it another trial. As regards the state- 
ment, however, made by the Rev. Edwin Sydney and 
Dr. Forster, that the electrified ground had been found 
to protect the Potatoes from the ravages of the late 
disease, in my experiment I certainly found it to be 
quite the contrary. The Potatoes I had under experi- 
ment grew remarkably fast, until the disease showed 
itself in the neighbourhood, when nearly every Potato 
in this particular patch were simultaneously attacked ; 
but not so with others adjoining and in immediate con- 
nection with them, until some weeks after, and the 
latter never were diseased to the extent of the electrified 
portions of the crop. Both lots were the same sort. 
From one experiment, we cannot fairly 
tricity was the cause of the Potato murra 
undoubtedly appears to influence rather than prevent 
it, for these Potatoes showed the disease almost as soon 
as any in the neighbourhood. I made many inquiries 
as to the probable cause of the Potato failure last year, 
but there appears so many conflicting accounts, I ap- 
prehend we shall never know the true cause ; I find in 
this locality that where rich animal manure (refuse- 
sprats), or soot were used, that the erop was protected 
from the prevailing disease.— Richard Mason, Weston- 
super-mare. 
The Potato Murrain,—The great mass of the publie 
seem disposed to hunt for far-fetched causes in order to 
account for this serious visitation. Not so myself: I 
cannot but think that Ossa has been piled upon Pelion 
in this ease, as in many others, or, in other words, that 
abuse has been heaped upon abuse, until this valuable 
root, although still producing great crops under high 
stimuli, no longer possesses the constitutional vigour 
ally belonging to it. The abuses I allude to, are 
principally two, viz.:—late planting, and, by conse- 
quence, imperfect seed; and high fermentation in 
“hogs” or pits. Iam perfectly aware that those gen- 
tlemen of the “olden time,” who still smart under the 
very remembrance of the “ curl,” will back late plant- 
ing (or, in other words, unripe seed) as the only pana- 
cea for all the ills that the Potato is heir to. I, how- 
ever, beg to differ from them ; planting unripe tubers, 
or, in other words, stems with badly elaborated sap in 
them, in order to get rid of the curl, is about as sapient 
a manœuvre (in my way of thinking) as that of the 
man who set fire to his house to get rid of the rats. 
Why not unripe Wheat or other grain for seed ? Why 
not unripe Lettuce or Cauliflower seed in our gardens, 
in order to get rid of the grub, or to avoid * buttoning,” 
and a host of other evils, which our gardeners would 
well describe? Why not unripe shoots of the Vine, the 
Peach, or other natives of warm climes and sunny 
skies, to furnish the garden? As to high fermentation 
in pits, I am persuaded that if one of our farmers 
could be compelled to spend one night only in the centre 
of a huge Potato pit, composed of unripe Potatoes re- 
cently taken from the field, he would never more 
store those intended for seed in that way. Surely a 
m 
allowing hand 1 loss, &e., and the extra peck 
taken as a matter of course. How can this be pre- 
vented? The small farmers of the country would be 
under an obligation to you if you could tell them how to 
prevent the imposition, They cannot unite, for they 
are too numerous and too poor ; the corn merchants are 
few, and have the game in their own hands.—Z. W. 
Land Flooded by Sea Water.—Your correspondent, 
C. H. B." asks advice, and you invite a statement of 
your readers’ experience as to the treatment of land 
which has been overflowed with salt water. In Janu- 
ary, 1833, the sea broke in upon a piece of land in my 
possession, which remained covered with salt water 
from 30 to 40 hours. ‘The soil was a strong alluvial de- 
posit, which had been formerly reclaimed from the sea. 
Tt was about 30 acres in extent, and was oceupied, to 
the best of my recollection, thus : about a fourth, 3 
years’ Grass; a fourth newly laid down Clover and 
Rye-grass ; a fourth Wheat ; and the remainder an Oat 
stubble. The latter was slightly ploughed ; I knew 
that the Wheat would go when spring eame, I there- 
fore ordered the land to be ploughed very thinly as 
soon as it was possible to get upon it,and also the Oat 
stubble. The portion upon which the Wheat was grow- 
ing was sown with Oats and Clover, and Rye-grass ; 
the Oat stubble was planted with Mangold Wurzel ; 
the Clover had a small quantity of Rye-grass thrown on 
in addition, and never better crops were seen than those 
which followed thistreatment. The early part of the 
spring was wet, and so far favourable. The experience 
of the neighbourhood is, that if the land be stiff clay, no 
erop succeeds well until the Jand has been under Grass. 
If l possessed land of that nature which had been re- 
cently overflowed with salt water, I would sow it with 
Oats and Clover, and Rye-grass, giving à good allow- 
ance of White Clover seed. The laud already in Grass 
will recover during the present season.— W. i 
Barley the best substitute for Polatoes.—Mr. Ewing 
is quite mistaken in supposing the disease of the Potato 
to have been occasioned by atmospheric influence. If 
you wish I will send you the most indubitable evidence 
that the disease of the Potato was occasioned solely by 
the heavy rains and the cold weather [are not these 
atmospheric influences 4] which is an invariable accom- 
paniment of heavy and continuous rains. Thus, as the 
disease was caused by wet and cold, consequently the 
evil being external, the tubers will be found generally 
to be free from the disease, as they spring from the 
core of the Potato ; henes there will be abundance of 
sound.seed found at home, without having recourse to 
foreign countries for it. Turnips, Cabbages, Parsnips, 
and Carrots, are unfit for human food, as they contain 
too little nutrition, and too much elastic air, causin| 
flatulence in the stomach, and gripes in the intestines. 
None of these should even be given to cattle, without 
quantity of milk, and will thrive much better than if 
used in their raw state. There is no ‘difficulty in find- 
ing a substitute for Potatoes. Barley is more productive, 
consequently cheaper, and more nutritious, and can be 
cultivated with less expense. An acre of good land in 
Treland [What is your acre 2] produces 29 barrels of 16 
stones, or 74241bs. of good grain; the strawis good fodder, 
and the chaff, when boiled with Turnips or Potatoes, is 
nutritious food for horses and cattle. Of 7,424 lbs. of 
