1846. 
2S3 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
is to be placed upon the average yield per cow as stated; 
and it would probably have been better to have dispensed 
with this average altogether, as this is a branch of agri¬ 
cultural operations subject to more than ordinary fluctu¬ 
ation from year to year. 
Vex*y respectfully, your obt. servt. 
S. S. Randall. 
ROT IN POTATOES. 
In a late excursion to the eastern border of the state, 
and a portion of Berkshire county, Massachusetts, we 
paid particular attention to the condition of the potato 
crop. We found the evidences of the rot very general; 
the testimony is unanimous, that it is much more preva¬ 
lent than it has ever been before. We saw but few 
fields that were not affected; but judging irom the ap¬ 
pearance of the tops, we should say that the crop was 
rather less injured on the whole, than it is in the im¬ 
mediate vicinity of this city. A few fields were still 
green, and so little changed that no symptoms of blight 
would be observed without particular examination. 
The crop on wet lands appears to be somewhat more 
affected than it is on dry land. So far, however, as 
regards the first attack , or the blight of the tops, not so 
much difference is discoverable; but the actual rotting 
of the tubers is less, as we should naturally expect, on 
porous and dry soils, than on those which are compact 
and wet. Dry earth, as well as other dry substances, 
by absorbing the superabundant moisture of the potato, 
lessens, of course, the tendency to decay; while moist¬ 
ure, on the other hand, increases this tendency. 
Cause and Remedy. —This part of the subject, is, we 
think, no nearer settlement, than it was a year ago. 
We have long been convinced that the originating 
cause is atmospheric—farther than this we can say 
nothing. In the functions of vegetable anu animal life, 
electricity undoubtedly exercises a potent agency; but 
whether the defect in this vegetable is owing to any 
unusual state or condition of this fluid, or to what par¬ 
ticular combinations of elements it is attributable, 
are points yet open for investigation. 
But if we are unable to assign the particular cause of 
the defect, it is some satisfaction to know what is not 
the cause. Thus we are confident from the most mi¬ 
nute observation, that insects have nothing to do with 
it. Worms, flies, and beetles, have, to be sure, been 
found on the stalks and in the hills of rotten potatoes; 
but this circumstance proves nothing in regard to the 
thousand cases where no such creatures can be disco¬ 
vered. We have examined, with glasses of ample 
power, both the top and the tuber, in all stages, from 
the first period that the defect is discoverable: but no 
traces of insects are to be found in common cases. 
Again, we are satisfied that the idea of the defect 
being caused by a “ want of alkalies in the soil,” is an 
utter fallacy; because numerous instances have come 
within our knowledge where the application of alkalies 
has had no effect to lessen the trouble. 
And as to remedies, if any have been found, they are 
certainly such as we have not heard of. Many sub¬ 
stances have been recommended as “ cures ” or preven¬ 
tives; but when subjected to a thorough test, they have 
all, so far as we have learned the result, totally failed. 
Some have supposed that cutting off the tops would se¬ 
cure the tubers from rotting. We have spoken of this 
before, though with not much belief in its efficacy. 
Mr. Jabez Pierce, of New-Lebanon, has, however, 
made some very fair experiments, which show that cut¬ 
ting off the tops is of no advantage whatever. He cut 
the tops from some rows of potatoes before they were 
in the least struck by blight; he cut other rows as soon 
as the leaves began to turn, and others at a later period. 
In all cases, the rows cut were parallel to others of the 
same kind which were left uncut. In company with 
Mr. Pierce, we carefully examined the potatoes in all 
the cases referred to. The proportion of rotten tubers 
was fullv as great where the tops were cut, as where 
they were untouched, provided they were of the same 
kind. But some kinds were much more rotten than 
others. Thus the Mercers, (called also in some sec¬ 
tions “ Neshannocks,” and in others, “ Chenangoes,”) 
were in the worst condition. We found ih s to be 
generally the case, and that the variety called Carters, 
were next to the former most affected. The flesh- 
colored potato, (Scotch-greys?) some of the round blue 
kinds, and the Long-reds, (Merinos) were more sound; 
and in some instances the last-mentioned kind appeared 
entirely unaffected, when growing by the side of Mer¬ 
cers that were at least half rotten. 
One word more as to the insect theory. We do not 
believe that any new species has been discovered, or 
that there is any unusual prevalence among potatoes of 
any kind before known. To find both the top and bottom 
of potatoes eaten by various insects, is no new thing; for 
more than thirty years we have observed them. We can¬ 
not here go into a minute description of the different spe¬ 
cies, nor is it necessary that this should be done. The 
fact that the ravages of no insect have ever been known 
to produce such consequences as are now witnessed in 
potatoes, is sufficient. But it is contended that insects 
have been found in the affected st'alks and in the de¬ 
composing tubers. This is not denied, but it no more 
proves that the insects caused this decay, than that the 
maggots and carrion-beetles in the putrifying carcase of 
an animal, caused its death! 
THE STRAWBERRY, 
WITH FIGURES AND DESCRIPTIONS OF FIVE VARIETIES. 
The ease with which every farmer may obtain this 
delicious and valuable fruit, should induce him to sup¬ 
ply himself with all he wants. It is true we are at this 
month of the year abundantly furnished with peaches, 
plums, and pears; but the strawberry comes by the first 
of summer, even as far north as Albany, when nothing 
else is to be had. Why then should any one let the 
privilege escape of enjoying a plentiful supply? Now is 
the time to move in the matter and set out the plants. 
Downing speaks of this fruit like a man who knows 
it well, when he says, “ Ripe, blushing strawberries, 
eaten from the plant, or served with sugar and cream, 
are certainly Arcadian dainties with a true paradisical 
flavor, and fortunately they are so easily grown, that 
the poorest owner of a few feet of ground may have 
them in abundance.” 
Very few, comparatively, among the mass of our 
land owners, have undertaken the culture of the straw¬ 
berry; and of those who have, many have partially 
failed from two causes, namely, neglecting good, rich, 
clean, and thorough cultivation; and neglecting to pro¬ 
cure fine and productive varieties. As many bushels of 
strawberries as of corn, may be raised on an acre, and 
at an expense not very much greater. If it were not so, 
the strawberry culturists of Cincinnati could not afford 
to pour into that city their hundreds of bushels, at a 
price of three to five cents per quart. One distinguished 
cultivator there raised at the rate of five thousand quarts 
per acre; and another, who is the most extensively en¬ 
gaged in the business, brought into market f ( ur thou¬ 
sand quarts in a single day. The fortieth part of 
an acre would afford a large family a most abundant 
supply during the strawberry season. 
A great deal could be said on the cultivation and 
management of the strawberry. It may perhaps be suf¬ 
ficient here to stale merely, that this plant, to flourish, 
requires, like most other plants, a good, rich, mellow 
soil; and like nearly all other plants, the soil for it 
must be kept clean and well cultivated. Who would 
expect to see a good crop of corn or of potatoes, from 
a promiscuous growth of these plants with weeds and 
grass? Strawberries should be planted in straight rows, 
about two or two and a quarter feet apart. These rows 
are as easily kept cultivated by a horse, as rows of po¬ 
tatoes or carrots. The runners, as they form, must be 
treated precisely as weeds, and kept hoed down, or at 
least should be hoed three or four times a year. With 
such management success can be scarcely doubted. 
Once in three years the runners may be allowed to 
