22 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
Jan, 
is wholly “constitutional/’ as our correspondent sup¬ 
poses, the vegetable would be equally effected in all 
locations, which is not the case. Even in England and 
Scotland, there are districts where the disease is not 
known, and wdiere the crops have continued to be as 
good as ever, both as to quantity and quality. In the 
essay on this subject, written by Prof. J. P. Norton, 
(Transactions of the N. Y. State Agricultural Society, 
for 1845,) it is shown by answers given to queries pro¬ 
pounded by the Agricultural Chemistry Association, 
that in five counties of Scotland the potatoe had not 
been effected by any disease. So in this country, we 
could name places where it has never suffered from the 
malady which in many locations has destroyed the crop. 
Again, it is not those varieties, as this theory would 
seem to imply, which have been longest propagated 
from the tuber, that are most effected. Take, for in¬ 
stance, the long reds or merinos, which were introduced 
here some forty or fifty years since, from the river La 
Plata, South America, and which had been there pre¬ 
viously cultivated for an unknown period: they are more 
generally productive and free from disease than any 
other kind within our knowledge. While, on the other 
hand, the Neshanocks or Mercers, the Carters, and some 
other kinds, known to have been produced in this coun¬ 
try within a comparatively few years, are the most 
weak in constitution and most subject to disease. 
We regard the production of potatoes from the ball, 
as similar to the production of apples or other fruit 
from the seed, and we should no more expect a “ renova¬ 
tion” in one case than another. The scion or bud, also, 
answers to the tuber, and if it can be proved that varie¬ 
ties of fruit degenerate from being propagated by graft¬ 
ing or budding, we should regard it as evidence that the 
potato might be affected in the way indicated. 
But that an advantage may accrue from raising both 
fruit and potatoes from seed, we readily admit. We 
do not, however, regard it as a means of renovating 
species; but as a means of multiplying varieties, and 
thus affording opportunities for obtaining superior ones 
by selection. It is the only way in which superior 
kinds can be obtained. Each kind has its peculiar na¬ 
tural habit, and when it has become fully developed, 
we are able to judge whether the propagation of the 
kind would be advantageous or otherwise. Of the 
almost infinite number of apples which have been pro¬ 
duced, a few only, comparatively, have been worthy of 
cultivation; and the chance of obtaining from seed a 
superior sort, is, perhaps, as one to a hundred. Our 
experience teaches that it is so with the potatoe. We 
have at various times raised from seed many kinds, and 
from the number have procured a few really superior 
ones; while the remainder and larger portion, had no 
properties which rendered them particularly valuable. 
In our number for November last, we cited an in¬ 
stance of potatoes having been produced from seed, 
during the past season, under our own observation. Of 
the six or seven kinds there spoken of, nearly all were 
evidently effected by the “ potatoe disease,” at the same 
time that most other potatoes in the neighborhood were 
attacked. One or two kinds appeared to have more 
natural stamina than the others, and continued vigorous 
till the close of the season. They may, on further trial, 
prove valuable. 
It should be remarked, that the practice of continu¬ 
ing to plant seed from only the best kinds of fruits or 
vegetables, for several generations, may reasonably be 
expected to produce greater improvement than if no 
care was exercised in this respect.— Eds. 
Seneca County, N. Y.—Extract of a letter from 
John Johnston, Esq., to the Cultivator : 
“ I am sorry to say our potatoes are rotting very 
fast; mine were perfectly sound when I gathered, and 
yet I am afraid I shall not save any for seed. More 
than one-half are now rotten, and rotting daily.” 
Chester County, Pa. —Extract of a letter from 
Dr. A. Bush, to the Editors of the Cultivator—“ The 
potato rot prevailed to some extent in this county. In 
some instances, the quantity raised has not equalled 
the amount of seed. In all cases the crop is light ; my 
own not excepted. The season has been exceedingly 
rainy and hot, with frequent flooding showers, predis¬ 
posing potatoes to rot in the highest degree, and con¬ 
tinuing so throughout June, July, and August. About 
the 16th of July symptoms of the rot appeared in my 
potatoes, but was confined to flat and clayey spots, 
where the excess of water could not readily run off. 
The tubers in such situations became diseased, whilst 
the tops looked healthy, and from continued and care¬ 
ful observation, I am confirmed in the views I ex¬ 
pressed in the essay, published in the Transactions of 
the N. Y. State Ag. Society, respecting the nature of 
the disease. I have not observed that any variety is 
less subject to the rot than the Philadelphia Mercers, of 
which I had planted about eighty bushels, and harvest¬ 
ed about 300.” 
CULTIVATION OF SWEDISH TUKNEPS. 
[We have been furnished with the following letter in 
reply to a request from the Hon. A. Stevenson, of Vir¬ 
ginia, for information in relation to the culture of the 
Swedish turnep, or Rutu-baga.— Eds.] 
Albany , Dec. 15, 1846. 
Hon. A. Stevenson —Dear Sir —It is with much 
pleasure I answer your inquiries on the cultivation of the 
Sweedish turnep. I regret my inability of description ; 
but shall be happy to disclose to you my mode of cul¬ 
ture by which I usually obtain success. 
I regard the turnep crop as one of the most impor¬ 
tant to the English farmer, and believe it to be equally 
as productive here as in Britain, under the same careful 
culture. 
In England, the turnep is the renovator, and the far¬ 
mer’s best friend ; light soils would be utterly useless, 
and impoverished, were they not aided by this valuable 
root. England has the advantage over America, as to 
climate, which will there admit of turneps being fed off 
on the land, and the treading of the sheep in winter is 
a very great advantage to a porous soil, which is pecu¬ 
liarly adapted to the bulbous tribe of vegetables. 
Turneps can be grown to advantage on any kind of soil, 
except a stiff clay ; in such a soil the roots cannot pen¬ 
etrate, the fibres cannot search for food to feed the 
plant, unless the soil is kept soft by continual moisture ; 
but sand, gravel, loam, or stony soil, are bes adapted to 
turneps, and are the most kind and grateful to them. My 
mode in this country, by which I have been remarkably 
successful, is as follows 
The first crop of eight acres I sowed on the river 
flats, a stiff loam, which was yearly overflown in the 
spring. I could not prepare the land according to the 
system I pursued in England previous to sowing. I 
