586 THE 
AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE. 
[Avc. 29, 
~The necessary buildings may thus be erected for a 
sum much under the amount on which the landlord 
would receive 10 per: cent. for his outlay. The above 
readily affecting the produce of seed, which itself was 
never properly matured. And this predisposition to 
disease continued till a succession of sunny seasons for 
is, I acknowledge, very rough method of g 
the eost of a farmery ; nevertheless the sums stated are 
such as similar erections do not exceed. And I am sure 
that many an estate exists which, for a less outlay than 
Ihave stated, might be raised in annual value by a 
sum equal to 10 per cent. on the landlord's investment, 
The expenses ineurred previously to the breaking up 
of this pasture farm. of 200 acres have been— 
For drains.. E m .- E «+ £750 
r roads .. ds oe oe E .. 280 
For buildings, certainly under co Bet 
isitr atit Gat natos Ebo or ros 2 
Which is equal to 97. 10s. per acre ; for which the land- 
lord claims 17. per acre additional rent.—M. S. 
THE POTATO DISEASE. 
As all facts bearing upon the cause of the Potato dis- 
ease are interesting at the present, moment, I send one 
or two which I think have not been previously observed. 
A plot of early Potatoes were eut over some weeks ago, 
before the disease had anywhere in this district re-ap- 
peared, and while the shaws were perfectly green. and 
healthy. At that time the tubers were quite sound, 
and continued so till a few days ago, when suddenly 
many of them became diseased. Another plot from 
which the shaws had been cut about the same time, but 
which were dug soon afterwards, and left on the surface 
to ripen, remain still perfectly sound. This seems to 
indicate both that the disease does not originate in the 
leaf or stem (for in this case the stems were entirely 
cut off before there was the slightest manifestation of 
disease in cither stem or tuber), and that it originates 
in the tuber only under certain circumstances, for in 
the one case where the Potatoes were left in the ground, 
they became diseased ; and in the other, where they had 
been dug before the disease appeared, the disease did 
not develop itself. "The constitution of the Potato seems 
for a time to have beeome weakened ; some of the tubers 
growing from the same set may be more predisposed cy 
f. ble 
a time altog dispelled it. The early part of this 
season was clear and sunny, and the crop of early Po- 
tatoes, then ripening, received a due supply of carbon 
and were perfectly sound. But the dark moist weather 
which preceded the general appearance of the disease 
on the later crops, occurred at the time when sunlight 
domestic point of view more valuable than the pig, and 
after a life spent in quietude and contentment in a space 
of ground many animals would pine and die in, his 
whole carcase, even those portions which in other farm 
produce are thrown away or thought little of, are all 
rejoiced in as luxuries, and then his jolly sides form the 
finest and best pieces of furniture in the dwellings of a 
large portion of the inhabitants of this happy land. 
There is in the economy of raising and feeding pigs a 
was of the greatest q Yet; g 
the present unfavourable appearance of the crop, it 
does not follow that the Potato is to disappear from the 
vegetable world, but on the contrary we are entitled to 
hope that a succession of good years will yet restore it 
to sound and healthy vitality. 
Lime has been recommended as an antidote to the 
disease, but. the following facts disprove its efficacy :— 
One field of Potatoes on this farm was heavily limed 
immediately before the Potatoes were planted ; about 
an aere of it was limed after the shaws were a foot high. 
The disease appeared at the same time over the whole 
field. On another field lime had been applied last year, 
on alternate ridges, one ridge receiving about three 
times the ordinary dressing (at the rate of 300 bushels 
per aere) and the next ridge receiving none. The 
ridges were each 30 feet wide, and 12 Potato drills were 
planted this spring on each. The disease manifested 
itself a week earlier on the limed than on the unlimed 
ridge, and the greater decay of the shaw on the limed 
ridge continues still quite evident to the eye. In all 
these instances the newly cut set had been dusted with 
quicklime when in prepara'ion for planting. Another 
part of the field was planted with seed, dipped, when 
fresh cut; in a weak solution of sulphuric acid (1 part 
acid to 80 of water), according to the recommendation 
of Professor Johnston, but without averting the disease. 
The practical conclusions I would venture to draw 
are these— 
lst. That after the stem has blackened and decayed, 
the tubers do not grow larger, and should as soon as 
possible be raised and stored ; for though the healthiest 
tubers might keep equally well in the soil, those which 
di di 1 
disease than others ; these, under certain 
i of pk acting upon the soil, be- 
come diseased. In this state the weakened tissues o 
the tuber are a fit receptacle for parasitie life, which, 
while it is the consequence and not the cause of the dis- 
ease, by its rapid development materially hastens the 
decay of the plant. Mhe fungus beginning in a single 
diseased or weakly tuber spreads rapidly up the stem, 
filling up in its progress the respiratory organs of the 
plant, and at the same time putting a stop to the descent 
and consequent formation of fibrous tissue in every 
tuber at the same stem. A due supply of carbon is 
necessary for the formation of fibrous tissue to 
strengthen the frame of the Potato, and it is elaborated 
from the atmosphere and transmitted to the tuber by the 
healthy function of the leaves and stem.. This elabora- 
tion of carbon cannot take place without the aid of sun- 
light,and, both last year and this, the disease made its ap- 
pearance in the leaf during a continuance of, or imme- 
diately after dark and wet weather. Before this took 
place last year many of the tubers had arrived at a 
tolerably ripe state and withstood the disease, while the 
rest, being without their due supply of carbon or fibrous 
tissue, had not strength to resistit. But those which 
last year withstood the disease, and those even in many 
districts in which it did not manifest itself at all, had, 
from want of sunlight, received too small a supply of 
carbon into their system, and the seed of this season 
everywhere was consequently predisposed to disease. 
The result has been that under similar favourable cir- 
cumstances of dark and moist atmosphere the entire 
crop of the country has now become diseased. Last 
year the disease was four weeks later in manifesting 
itself, but last year was a later season by four weeks 
than this ; that, the seed used this year was, for 
the causes already stated, more readily affected. The 
fact that the disease last year did not manifest itself on 
de 
‘some parts of a farm, while other parts of the same 
farm, equally exposed to sunlight, did not escape, may 
arise from this: that those parts which did escape (gene- 
rally mossy), from their spongy and perhaps antiseptic 
nature, gave a drier and safer bed to the tuber, which 
consequently remained sound, and the stem and leaves 
continuing green, a longer time was given for the elabo- 
PUES of carbon on the subsequent appearance of sun- 
ight. 
But even in the most favourable positions this pro- 
cess appears to have been imperfeetly performed; for 
this year neither moss-lands northe seed from moss-lands 
have escaped. When a partial failure takes place in 
any of the grain crops, the extent of it is not observed 
till the crop is being thrashed out; but in the case of 
Potatoes the universal decay of the haulm causes fore- 
bodings perhaps needlessly great. Last year nearly 
half the erop was saved, and this year, bad though ap- 
pearances are, it is hoped the loss: will not be total. 
Next year the Potato will be still more predisposed to 
isease, and the failure will be still greater should the 
Season prove unfavourable. But should the season, on 
the contrary, be in the latter part of it clear, sunny, and 
dry, we may hope that the tubers will receive such an 
accession of strength as may restore them to their 
former hardiness. This country has often sustained 
severer losses by the partial destruction of the grain 
crops from unfavourable seasons than it has ever yet 
suffered from the ravages of the Potato disease. A suc- 
cession of bad grain crops has more than once been ex- 
perienced, caused by dark and moist weather more 
rey p o disease are more liable to be attacked 
when left in it. 
2d. That cutting off the haulm does not appear in 
any degree to prevent the disease, whilst, so long as it 
remains green, the haulm is of essential consequence to 
the healthy funetions of the plant. [Our correspondent 
does not appear to have tried pulling up.] : 
3d. That the soundest seed will be likely to be ob- 
tained by leaving the tubers in the ground during 
winter, inasmuch as thereby all the weakest will cer- 
tainly be destroyed and only the strongest and healthiest 
left ; and it may therefore be advisable to leave a por- 
tion undug, and-to suffer the total loss of the partially 
diseased for the sake of securing the soundest tubers for 
seed. 
4th. That the application of lime to the soil or seed 
seems to have no influence in averting the disease. 
When the Potato is taken up it is of the utmost con- 
sequence that it be properly stored ; and at the risk of 
lengthening out a letter which has already grown too 
long, I beg to mention a method which I adopted last 
year with a diseased crop, on a considerable scale, and 
with perfect success. A headland of the Potato-field 
was selected, to which the Potatoes werercarted as they 
were taken from the ground ; they were there piled up 
to a point beginning with a base of 3 ft. in width, then 
carefully thatched over with drawn straw toa depth of 
6 inches, A small drain about 6 ins. deep was then 
dug along the entire length of both sides of the pit, into 
which the rain water from the thatch fell, and was by 
it carried away. For about three weeks after the pit 
was made the thatch was opened at intervals of three 
yards all along the sunny side of the pit, on fine days, 
and these openings were carefully closed again before 
night. On the appearance of frost the whole side of 
the pit most exposed to the influence of frost wind re- 
ceived a further covering of about six inches more 
thatch, This,during the last mild season, was a suf- 
ficient protection, arly in spring when the whole pit 
was overhauled, the Potatoes were in excellent preser- 
vation ; the diseased ones very dry and firm, and the 
sound, to the eye, perfectly so ; while there was not 
beyond the average of former years of completely rotten 
Potatoes. This crop was raised from stiff coarse land, 
taken up in dropping weather, necessarily with much 
moist clay adhering to the tubers, it was pitted as it 
came from the ground without picking or selection, and 
after being pitted in the manner already mentioned, 
nothing farther was done till spring. In this manner I 
kept with safety from 200 to 300 tons of Potatoes.— 
James Caird, Baldoon, Wigtonshire, Aug. 17. 
ON THE MANAGEMENT OF PIGS. 
Turre is probably no animal so much libelled, so 
unjustly denounced as filthy, so preposterously accused 
of what he is not guilty of as the Pig. To say “as 
drunk as a pig,” is an undeserved stigma upon his 
character for temperance. Is there alcohol left in the 
brewer’s grains after the smallest of the small, the 
table and the lamen-table have been extracted there- 
from? As to his proverbial dirtiness, look into his 
stye and see if his habits of cleanliness are not of a 
superior order to those of most other domestie animals. 
To be as “ stupid,” as “ignorant,” &e., is contradicted 
by the fact that a considerable number are regularly 
perambulating the provinces in caravans as learned 
professors for enlightening the country “ raws’’ at fairs. 
To speak seriously, there is, perhaps, no animal in a 
vast imp required in practical management. 
The usual construction of the sty is bad, commonly 
placed so as to fill up some vacant corner, often in a 
situation where the eaves of some higher buildings drip 
into it ; this with imperfect drainage from the sty, and 
the dung kept for days, sometimes weeks inside this 
place of confinement, render these dens anythiag but 
what the animal requires, 
ee hs vice Sa scd pate ee Soo [is 
| [ie dj Z 2 
The above sketch shows, in section, the construction of 
a double range of sties under one roof, with an opening 
down the middle sufficiently wide for a barrow or truck con- 
taining the food, litter, &e., to pass down between. The 
troughs should be moveable so as to draw through into 
the passage. The shed part being the resting place, 
and the outer space being made upon a descent, the in- 
terior is kept perfectly clean. A small opening in the 
outer wall keeps the whole in the nicest order with 
little trouble or labour. 
It is the management of breeding that is most de- 
fective, there being generally no system, no order or 
regularity attempted. The sow is put to the boar at all 
seasons of the year, and the progeny often eome into 
the world untimely. The productions of this animal 
might be regulated with periodical exactness, whic 
would be beneficial to the stock, and advantageous to 
the feeder and breeder. 
Suppose a row of sties like the above sketeh, one 
sow in each, for they should be constructed small. We 
will begin the year in November. The boar may be 
put to each sow during the month (probably during the 
latter half of the month), the period of gestation will 
end in March, early in the month ; the season is then 
favourable for the growing progeny. After an interval 
of 10 weeks (a sufficient space of time, and longer than 
is required for the litter to get away), the boar is again 
put to the sow at the end of May ; this second litter 
will fall in the next September (a good and seasonable 
eriod), and the young get away the following Novem- 
ber, to follow out the system for another year. The 
advantages here are, the seasonable periods of gesta- 
tion, and the growth of the young ; the uniformity of 
coming in together affording a saving of time and labour 
and attendance. The food should be prepared for the 
different stages of the sow’s requirements ; in the early 
part of her time Turnips, Swedes, grains, &c., for the 
November period ; and green Vetches, or any odds and 
ends of growing produce, for May and some following 
weeks. More generous food is required as the time o 
farrowing approaches ; and good living, such as Oat- 
meal, pollard, &e., when the young require nourish- 
ment, 
The most remarkable contrast between this animal 
and the sheep, cow, &c., is in the produce of its young; 
for while the latter are confined to one or two, except 
in rare eases, the former averages when full grown not 
less than ten or twelve, often more. If, therefore; 
number be of value, the intrinsie worth of this anima 
is very superior to other breeding stock. 
It is a common practice, but a mistaken notion as fo 
the profitable advantage of the system, to let a young 
sow have but one litter, and then being fattened she is 
of the same age as those generally killed for bacon, an 
quite equal to them ; thisis true, but for the first litter, 0D 
account of her age, the produce is small in number; ! 
is only upon arriving at mature age that the prolific 
powers of this creature are shown, and that too for 4 
series of years; being then not equal in quality 29 
bacon to a younger animal, but fully making up for 
loss in quality by size. 4 
he aptitude to fatten is a marked peculiarity in this 
branch of stock, and to secure its speedy and effectual 
attainment, it is necessary to provide dry lodging— tHe 
d ges of a ined sty can only be know? 
from practical experience ; the habit of the animal; 12 
the excrements being found in one spot, generally the 
lowest ground, plainly indicate that nature intended him 
to be cleanly to thrive, and thrive he will to a degree 
under such circumstances calculated to content and 
delight his feeder, } 
Perhaps one of the most interesting scenes in rure 
life is the working man’s care of, and attention to, pus 
pig and his sty. It is only in the Irish cabin that our 
hero is the principal member in the family circle, an! 
takes his meals as such; with the English cottager e 
is kept in his proper station in life, and with Eon E 
treatment, To keep a pig is to this man a point of di á 
tinetion to arriveat in his sphere, it is the line of He. 
cation between the industrious: peasant and the: poo 
