238 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
DISEASE OF THE POTATOE. 
Mr. Tucker— The subject of the disease which last 
year prevailed so universally among potatoes, is one 
which has very naturally and properly called out the 
the inquiries and conjectures of many investigators, and 
as yet no particular cause for its existence seems to have 
been concluded upon by the mass of cultivators. Some 
suppose that the membranes of the leaf are destroyed by 
an insect, and that the work of decay originates in this 
cause. 
But of this theory for it is theory and nothing more, we 
are prepared to say, that we saw, (and so did every obser¬ 
ving farmer, we must think,) hosts of small, black flies 
infesting potatoe fields, in years long before we ever heard 
of the disease in potatoes, and the usual consequence was, 
that the membrane of the leaf was eaten out, as somebody, 
in some particular instance, saw it last fall. Then, again, 
in proof of the innocence of the poor insect, (who is cer¬ 
tainly driven to rather hard fare, even for a mischievous 
fellow,) in this matter, we must say that we saw with 
our own eyes, and no mistake about it, leaves of potatoes 
after they had become dry by the disease, as perfect in 
all their parts as any potatoe leaves we ever saw. Others 
are of opinion that the cause of the disease is owing to 
the “ influence of a worm in the root,” but we have 
seen no statement of such animals being found in such 
locations until the disease had made some progress, so 
there must be some doubt in the case as to whether the 
worm does the mischief, or is attracted by the conse¬ 
quences of its having been done to feast on the corrup¬ 
tion that ensues. 
Last fall, we ventured an opinion on the cause of the 
disease which as yet we have found no cause to relin¬ 
quish, but on the contrary, from the facts we have col¬ 
lected and observations we have made, we have become 
more tenacious of its correctness. It was simply this, 
that from some cause which we did not then and cannot 
now define to our own satisfaction, the potatoe vine 
was attacked with a rust similar to that we frequently see 
on the straw of rye and wheat. That in the case of the 
potatoe, it first showed itself in a very small blotch on 
the side of the stalk, which continued to spread until it 
had gone round and through the stalk, when the latter, 
at the particular point of disease became dry and hard as 
though it had reached its maturity. The death of the 
top of the stalk of course soon follows, but the lower 
part remains green for a while. The conjecture, (it 
was mere conjecture) we threw out, was this, whether 
the sap which was now stopped by the dryness of the 
stalk in its usual channel of circulation, and, of course, 
prevented from passing into the leaf, its natural labora¬ 
tory for preparation to return to the tuber and fulfil its 
accustomed service in giving it nourishment, did not 
necessarily return prematurely, and either from excess of 
quantity, or by bringing back some quality which had 
better been given to the winds, induce the disease in the 
tubers ? Our own potatoes were too far gone to experi¬ 
ment much upon, when we, surprised with the novelty 
of the action, hit upon a single plan to adopt. It,appeared 
to us however, as soon as we saw how the mischief was 
progressing, that mowing the tops was the best and per¬ 
haps only efficient method to pursue. A neighbor, 
whose crop was smitten long after our own, tried this 
experiment, by mowing about half a field, as soon as the 
tops exhibited symptoms of the disorder, and the result 
was satisfactory and cheering. Where the tops were so 
mown, no appearance of the rot was ever discovered, and 
the potatoes gave all the evidence of maturity which the 
circumstances of the case could possibly admit of, while 
the other part of the field suffered as much from the rot 
as any in the vicinity. Here, then, is one instance in 
favor of our theory. 
Other experiments were tried, of which we shall cite 
but one or two. In one case, a farmer dug a very few 
hills when the vines first showed symptoms of disease, 
and carefully buried them and let them remain until the 
usual time of digging, when they were taken out all 
sound, while the most of his crop had suffered essentially, 
i'here can be no doubt we think, that when potatoes are 
dug so early as the rot came last year, but that they must 
be put in small bodies and kept cool and excluded from 
the atmosphere. Their tendency to heat, and thus be¬ 
come heavy and insipid, warrants us in that conclusion, 
and so we infer that the letting them remain in hills 
with the tops taken off, until the usual time of digging 
is a much cheaper and better way than to dig and put 
cellars, or on floors in piles. 
Another course of proceeding which has come under 
our observation, was adopted by some Irishmen, who 
had known this enemy to their favorite esculent “ in 
the old country,” and which it may not be useless to men¬ 
tion. When they saw the crop smitten, they dug it im¬ 
mediately, and piled the potatoes on the surface of the 
ground, taking care to guard them from sunshine until 
the job was completed, when they covered the pile 
entirely with clay. The result was probably as they 
had known it to be aforetime. Their crop was saved 
and their potatoes of good quality. The clay, undoubtedly 
acted as a two fold agent, kept them cool and excluded 
the atmosphere and storms. 
We have only to say, in conclusion, that if any one can 
confute any point we have advanced, we shall be happy 
to have them do it. Truth and light are what we are 
looking after in this matter, and if we have advanced an 
error, the public good requires that it should be set right. 
And especially does the agricultural interest of our 
country require that this pestilence which made such 
rapid strides in its advancement the last year, should 
meet with hot pursuit by every philanthropist, until its 
progress is stayed if not effectually stopped. 
Yours truly, W. Bacon. 
P. S. There have been many experiments in planting 
potatoes tried in this region, this spring, with reference 
to preventing the disease. If any thing o f importance 
results from them, I shall give due notice. 
Mount Osceola, Mass., June 22th, ’45. 
THE SUGAR CANE. 
L. Tucker, Esq —In case you do not possess a bet¬ 
ter treatise on the subject of sugar cane, you are at liberty 
to use this as it may interest Mr. McDonald, noticed iri 
the May number of the Cultivator, page 151. 
Sugar cane designed for the plants are cut before frost;, 
usually early in Oct., and either planted immediately or 
put down in matelas or beds from one to two feet thick, 
like shingling, with the tops uppermost in order to pro¬ 
tect the stalks and eyes from freezing. Cane may be 
planted in the autumn or any time between September 
and March. The usual time is after rolling, or sugar 
making, in January and February. When planted the 
leaves are taken off. 
The ground is well plowed, and if rough, well har¬ 
rowed ; after which, it is laid off in furrrows with a plow, 
from four to six feet apart, as scarcely any two plants 
are alike and the cane is laid lengthwise in the furrows. 
A single stalk is by some deemed sufficient. I would 
prefer it double, with all the eyes sound. Long cane is 
better cut in two or three pieces. It is then covered 
with the hoe or plow from one to three inches in depth. 
Light covering would be preferable were there no dan¬ 
ger from freezing. 
After the winter is passed the cane is bared on each 
side with a plow, throwing the furrow from the cane; 
and the cane is now scraped with the hoe; taking all the 
surplus earth from over the cane—leaving the cane near 
the surface, in order to promote early vegetation. 
It is now kept clean from grass and weeds until it has 
suckered or stooled sufficiently thick to produce a full 
stand ; soon after this, say last of May or in June, it 
should be hilled from three to four inches and laid by 
and unmolested till ready to harvest or cut for the mill. 
Allow me here to say, the ground, when planted, 
should be so thoroughly ditched and cross furrowed, as 
not to allow any water to stand on the surface of the field 
or ground. Three cart loads of cane may plant an acre 
single, but we are not governed by loads. Cane ripens 
or matures usually from three to six or sometimes ot 
seven feet high, commencing from the bottom, say in 
August or September, and ripens about a joint or six 
