7 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
I 
<dficttt <3|rflps. 
THE MODEL POTATO. 
Thf, above is the title of a book which is 
claimed to be “an exposition of the proper 
cultivation of the potato, the causes of its 
diseases or rotting, the remedy therefor,” 
etc.; by John McLaumx, M. D.; edited 
with annotations by R. T. Tball, M. D., 
and published by Samuel R. Wells, New 
York. The pretentiousness of this work 
calls lor more t han the brief notice usually 
given to books of the kind. The author and 
editor are meu quite eminent in their pro¬ 
fession, but in passing out of this, and en¬ 
deavoring to instruct the agriculturist in 
regard to the physiological character, as 
well as the best method of cultivating the 
potato, they have exhibited a wonderful 
ignorance of the subject. 
It is quite evident that it is becoming 
popular for certain professional gentleman, 
who have been spoiled by a little praise for 
what they have said or done in one Held of 
science or literature to think they are espe¬ 
cially qualified to instruct the masses upon 
almost any subject which may happen to 
attract their attention; honce we tind theo¬ 
logians and politicians talking learnedly of 
farming, and M. D’s. trying to apply their 
imperfect knowledge of animal physiology 
to the vegetable creation. That they make 
a most lamentable failure, and show their 
ignorance, is evident to every man with 
common sense. 
The work before us opens with a twenty- 
one page advertisement of the editor's 
method of treating his patients, and a laud¬ 
ation of his own greatness as a physician, 
with scarcely an allusion to the contents of 
the following pages. All this talk about 
self may be true; but, placed in this posi¬ 
tion, it is nothing less than disgusting ego¬ 
tism. 
The opening chapter of the work is divi¬ 
ded into fourteen sections or propositions. 
The llrst live contain nothing worthy of 
particular attention, the author merely 
stating what he intends to show in the fol¬ 
lowing pages as well as his opinion in regard 
to the potato rot. On pages 25 and 20 we 
find tile followingVegetables and ani¬ 
mals possess organs and properties in com¬ 
mon, and are subject to the same laws of 
organization and reproduction. To this 
statement the potato is n<> exception. True 
the potato is more simple in its structure 
and less complicated in its functions than 
an animal. Vegetables have all the vital 
qualities and instincts of animals. They 
lack sensibility and mentality.” 
Where tho author finds such strong re¬ 
semblance between the mode of reproduc¬ 
tion in plants and animals we are not 
informed, for instances illustrative of the 
fact are. not named. It is true that some 
authors have undertaken to show that be¬ 
cause plants are, in a majority of instances, 
reproduced from seed, the resemblance to 
the animal kingdom is quite clear and con¬ 
spicuous. But it requires a powerful imag¬ 
ination to see the similarity' oven in the 
case of seeds; but when we look a step 
further and note the bud divisions, growing 
as suckers from roots or subterraneau 
stems, or the prostrate branch throwing 
out buds, leaves, roots and stems from 
almost every cell, we get far away from the 
higher orders of animals, and the “same 
laws of organization and reproduction ” 
are not apparent. If the tails of our cows 
should happen to take root in tho soil, the 
same as the canes of the Black Ras perry. 
Weeping Willow and hundreds of other 
plants, wo might see a similarity in mode of 
reproduction; but. they do not. But our 
author explains the difference between the 
animal and vegetable thus: — “A potato 
differs from an animal and from some vege¬ 
tables and from some other roots in the fact 
that by death it transmits life, the entire 
t uber being the so u rce Of life; and unless this 
life be transmitted integrally, the progeny 
will be devitalized, ultimatiug, in connec¬ 
tion with causes, in debility, disease and 
decay'.” 
Heroin we find ono of the grand theories 
of our author in regard to the cause and 
cure of potato-rot. Cutting up the tubers 
for planting has been the cause; now if wo 
plant our potatoes whole we will prevent it. 
This is not a new theory by a long ways, 
and those who have practiced planting 
whole potatoes for scores of years in suc¬ 
cession did not lose by the disease any more 
than other people. But let us examine our 
would-be vegetable physiologist's statement 
a little more minutely. The Italics in the 
above paragraph are his, and we conclude 
that he looks upon a potato tuber as ono seed, 
and does not know'that it is only an enlarged 
stem covered with buds, each of which is 
an individual plant, capable of reproducing 
its kind the same as the buds upon a tree; 
and there is uo more reason why we should 
plant a whole potato for the purpose 
of propagation, than that we should plant 
a whole ear of corn, head of wheat, or 
an entire grape vine, inst ead of one seed or 
ono bud. Seeds and buds are analogous 
productions, the germ of each requiring 
but a very minute quantity of organized 
matter to produce a root, or roots, of suffi¬ 
cient size to draw substance from tho earth. 
If we plant a potato entire, only a small 
proportion of the buds germinate, the 
others, being smothered, decay, and are 
far more likely to cause disease than if only a 
smaller number were crowded into tho same 
space. It is passing strange that men will, 
at tins late day, decry the division of plants 
as a method of propagation; for if is not, 
only natural, but tho experience of all ages 
luvs shown that it is not a source or cause of 
deterioration. There are hundreds and 
thousands of plants that multiply in this 
manner without the aid of man; and we 
have every reason to believe that the same 
varieties of plants exist to-day as good as 
they did five or ten thousand years ago; 
and it is well known that varieties are only 
perpetuated by' bud division. Plants are 
compound, and each cell, as well as bud, is 
capable under proper conditions of becom¬ 
ing a separate individual plant, with all the 
vitality and functions of its parent. Weeds 
are only buds thrown off by the parent 
plant, in order to facilitate a more rapid 
and widespread dissemination; and there is 
not a particle of evidence in the whole his¬ 
tory of agricult ure and horticulture to show 
that tlie propagation of plants by buds 
tends to produce disease or deterioration of 
species and varieties more than propagation 
by seeds. 
But the author of our “Model Potato” 
appears not to bo exactly satisfied in his own 
mind that planting pieces of the potato has 
doue all the mischief; therefore, he begins 
his second chapter with this caption:— 
“ Error 1. Bad Weed.—Although the potato 
disease is perfectly curable, yet no kind of 
potatoes will attain large size, or continue 
productive, if uureuewed from the plum or 
send ball for more than twenty years, and 
some sorts will not thrive without such re¬ 
newal for more than half that length of 
time.” Then our author talks about this 
renewal from seed being a physiological law 
which cannot, be disregarded without fear¬ 
ful consequences. What will our farmers 
say to this twenty years' limitation of some 
of our old standard sorts, that have stood 
the test of a half century or more—like the 
Pink Eye, Neshannock, Irish Cups, and 
Merino, which we remember of picking up 
ourselves full twice twenty years ago. It is 
true that disease lias attacked these varie¬ 
ties as well as others; and new sorts have 
come in and driven them out of cultivation 
in some localities; but deterioration in con¬ 
sequence of age is not one of tho causes of 
scarcity. 
“ Error No. 2.—Mixing together for seed 
potatoes any and every kind of good, had, 
old, young, indiscriminately', affects the 
crop as dcleteriously as a similar process 
would tho breeding of animals.” Is it pos¬ 
sible that our author believes that potatoes 
mix in the hill, and that an Early Rose 
would not remain as pure, and grow as vig¬ 
orously, by the side of a Peach Blow as 
when planted alone? This appears to be 
bis idea, or he would not have referred to 
tho breeding of animals; but potatoes do 
not mix in this way any more than animals 
do by feeding or sleeping together. A dis¬ 
eased animal or potato may impart tho virus 
to others; but this has nothing to do with 
the breeding of eit her. Wo have breeds of 
animals which it may be advisable to keep 
pure; but breeds of potatoes are not as yet 
established, and a man will find himself 
somewhat disappointed if he expects to 
raise Early Rose potatoes from seed. 
“Vivisection.” — This is put down as 
Error No. ii, and is the same as noticed on 
page 20, viz:—Cutting of the seed, which is 
claimed to be the cause of the potato dis¬ 
ease, We will quote only ono paragraph 
for the purpose of showing how absurdly a 
man can talk about a thing of which he 
knows nothing;—“The sundering of the 
bud from the body of the tuber, under the 
impression that sucll mutilated fragments 
will produce healthy and vigorous fruit , is 
most fallacious and absurd, and has no par¬ 
allel among the many blunders of agricul¬ 
turists. This unnatural severance by' di¬ 
vision dissipates the vital forces of the seed 
and debility' of offspring is the inevitable 
consequence.” A potato tuber is not a 
fruit, neither is it a seed, but, as we have 
already stated, an enlargement of a subter¬ 
raneous stem upon the surface, of which 
there are more or less buds of the same 
character and functions as those to be 
found upon the stems and branches above 
ground. A leaf or a portion of the stem 
will produce roots and tubers exactly like 
those found beneath tho surface of the soil. 
So fur as there being “no parallel among 
the many blunders of agriculturists” to 
t his cutting and gouging out the buds from 
tin* pot ato as a method of propagation, our 
learned doctor must l»c wot ully ignorant of 
farming and gardening. Agriculturists ac¬ 
tually divide the roots of rhubarb in order 
to perpetuate any particular variety; and 
the acres of horseradish cultivated about 
New York and other cities is propagated in 
the same niunner. But it is unnecessary to 
specify instances of the kind, for they are 
familiar to every man who is not. so blind 
that he won’t see the truth and the facts. 
Budding, grafting, layering, and all the dif¬ 
ferent, methods of propagating plants from 
cuttings of leaf, stem, branches and roots, 
come under the some laws, and are parallel 
instances of bud propagation of plants. 
The remaining portion of tins book is no 
better than that from which wo have made 
these few ext racts; but we have said enough 
to show what two learned men of Gotham 
can write about a subject of which they are 
profoundly ignorant. 
BONE MEAL AND ABORTIVE COWS. 
I t’iNj) in Rural New-Yorker of June 
15th, tho following:—“ One of my neighbors 
has brought, in a quantity of ‘pure bone 
dust ’ to sell and feed to cows to prevent 
(as lie claims) abortion.” I am the neighbor 
referred to by my neighbor 1*. Or. Nou- 
THRUJ’. I cannot tell how my neighbor N. 
ever got into Ids head an idea concerning 
this very interesting subject (as coming 
from me) so untruthful, and at the same 
time so uncalled for in barely asking your 
opinion. It, is due to the public and to my¬ 
self to say that neither in my public lectures 
nor my private talks have f offered such an 
opinion. As to me personally I could have 
allowed the matter to rest; but the public 
should not bo misled by' such barefaced 
in istnkcx. 
I have been in tho habit for several years 
of uaing largo quantities of bone fertilizers 
on iuy farm, and on this account 1 suppose 
the bone filings were sent to mo to sell to 
dairymen who were willing to test tho arti¬ 
cle. My cows arc not troubled wit h abor¬ 
tion, but some of t hem, and all my young 
stock, eat it greedily. From August until 
nows come in, 1 think they should have it 
if they will eat it. 
In reply to y'our article which appeared 
In the Rural of March 2d, 1 gave my views 
in part concerning the cause or causes of 
abortion, directed to the Rural, which I 
intended should bo published; it lias not 
been. It is to be regretted that, the Com¬ 
missioners have not reached t he solution of 
the difficulty. I believe that by thorough 
investigation in regard to management, 
feed, drink, etc., of the dairies that have 
aborted, correct conclusions in regard to its 
cause might, be easily reached. 1 do not be¬ 
lieve, with your chemists, that one cow will 
abort because one beside her in the stable 
has done so; but having taken the same 
kind of food, or drank at the same stagnant 
pool or mud hole, she aborts from the same 
cause, and sometimes very soon after, or at 
the same time. I am using my spare time 
mostly in looking into t lie subjects connect¬ 
ed witli my calling as a farmer, and, of 
course, am looking around me for informa¬ 
tion. Sylvester Wheat. 
Del. Co., N. Y. 
-»»» ■ ■ 
COWS SLABBERING AND GIVING 
BLOODY MILK. 
I have a clover patch, and my father 
one adjoining mine ; father’s lias been 
grazed all the Spring; mine only since the 
first of June. Both patches have plenty of 
ripe seed, and neither has been cut. Stock 
turned on my clover are not the least affect¬ 
ed; those turned on father’s seem to suffer 
extremely tor about twelve hours, and 
slabber very much. Why is iL? and what is 
the antidote? The milk from father’s cows 
that have been on his clover all the Spring, 
after it lias had time to settle, deposits a 
large quantity of blood often at, the bottom 
of the pans. What causes it? — R. S. SMITH, 
Lowndes Co,, Miss. 
It is not probable that the olovei:has any¬ 
thing to do with tiie illness of your father’s 
cows. It is more probable Unit it is some 
plant or weed growing in Ids pasture—•what, 
we cannot conjecture, of course. Be assured 
it is not (lie clover nor clover seed. The 
cause of the bloody milk is probably to be 
found in the fact that one or more of t he 
cows has tho garget. See the numerous 
garget remedies heretofore published in the 
Ritual New- Yorker. Set the milk of 
each cow separate until you find which ono 
or oqes give the bloody milk, and treat that 
one or them accordingly. 
HOW GYP8UM ACTS UPON SOILS. 
Thin is a question that, has been much 
discussed. Tho latest dlsoussiou of it we 
have noticed Is by the BoRtoji Journal of 
Chemistry which says:—“The exact way 
in Which gypsum produces its fertilizing ef¬ 
fects is not well understood, although it is 
unerstood that the chemical changes or 
transformations which occur when it is 
brought in contact with soils arc not of a 
fixed character. I Tpon the conditions which 
exist, as regards ilio presence of vegetable 
matter and moisture, depend the changes 
that take place. Wo have proved by actual 
experiment, that gypsum is capable of ab¬ 
sorbing ammonia from the air and also from 
decomposing vegetable matter, being, there¬ 
by changed Into hydroHulpbido of ammo¬ 
nium; and this again may bo changed Into 
carbonate of ammonia by absorption of car¬ 
bonic acid from the air. These changes 
take place when gypsum is brought lu con¬ 
tact with moisture and vegetable matter. 
Whatever other decompositions may take 
place under different circumstances, this 
must, be regarded as tho most important, us 
from it, plants are supplied with food of the 
highest value. 
From these ascertained facts we should 
infer that plaster must prove highly service¬ 
able to moist, mossy hills, and also to mead¬ 
ows not too wot, and this lias proved correot 
so fur as our observations extend. Often 
wo have found that the north side of a hill 
will be greatly beuefittod by plaster, while 
upou the southern exposure It lias no per¬ 
ceptible effect. This is duo to the Tact that 
the northern .dope is cooler, or oftener in 
shade, aud has more moisture, and a larger 
amount of partially decayed vegetation, to 
aid in the promotion of those chemical chan¬ 
ges to which we have alluded. 
“Tt, is certain that it. does not matter so 
much what may be the nature of the soil to 
which wo may apply plaster, as external 
agencies are principally concerned in fitting 
it for plant, food. 
While the question as to how plaster acts 
in all cases as a fertilizer cannot bo regarded 
as fixedly settled, yet we have certain facts 
to guide us in its application Which are of 
tho highest importance. With what wo 
know, it would bo absurd for a funner t.o 
apply the agent to a dry silicious plain, or 
to a hot, impoverished hill; and also it 
would be unwise to sow it upon a meadow 
which is covered by water six months in tho 
year. It must also bo observed that the 
season lias much to do witli the effeots of 
plaster. 
-»•»-» — 
FROM NEBRASKA. 
Ne hr ask a, Agriculturally, Hortieultur- 
ally, and Homologically, has her “ best foot 
foremost” tills season. The past Winter 
was remarkably severe in many respects, 
and yet the crops, generally, and fruit pros¬ 
pects, were never so promising. Apples, 
pears, peaches, plums, apricots and grapes 
are in great abundance. Our Legislature 
lias been very liberal in providing for our 
State Horticultural Society, as well as 
the State Board of Agriculture, and tho 
“ infant, State ” will appear before some of 
you Eastern Bornological Societies, t his Fall, 
with fruits from the “Great American 
Desert.” 
Fall wheat, put in late and carelessly, suf¬ 
fered badly last Winter. The more lender 
varieties of fruits were badly Injured. By 
this misfortune, however, we learn what 
varieties arc most reliable, and in future 
planting “governourselves accordingly.” 
Nebraska “Arbor Day,” April 10th, ac¬ 
complished great good for us. Over one 
million trees were planted on that day. 
One farmer planted thli'ty-thrce thousand, 
another 24,000, another 21,000, and so on 
down. Ono lad, but eleven years old, 
walked three miles, gathered and planted 
SOOyoung cottonwood trees. Remember this 
was only one day’s work, and was really but 
“a drop In the bucket, "as to our tree plant¬ 
ing in Nebraska this Spring. We have had 
more rain than I have known for sixteen 
years past, and hence the surroundings for 
tree growing has been most propitious. The 
hitherto “timberless prairies of the West ” 
are not destined to remain so. 
OurState Board of Agriculture, and State 
Horticultural Society, hold their Fair and 
Fruit Exhibition, jointly, at Lincoln, the 
Capital, on September J, 4, 5 and fi next. 
All railroads leading to our State agree to 
give greatly reduced rates of fare on that 
occasion. “Come and see us.” 
Brownville, Neb. Robt. W. Furnas. 
