The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-08-14 00:00:00

POTATO BLIGHT.
(From the Gardener's Chronicle.)

From July 14 to, July 25, the same correspondent
informs us he measured nearly nine inches of rain. The
rain, it rained every day—to paraphrase Autolycus'
dictum—with only one exception, in the interval just
mentioned. Now, these are the conditions under which,
n consonance with all former experience, the potato
disease specially manifests itself. Under such circum-
stances the spawn grows rapidly; it throws up its
branches into the air; these, with their twofold bud-
spores multiply the plant to an almost unlimited ex-
tent. Of these bud-spores too, one form is specially
provided with minute locomotive organs, adapted to
swim about in water, and these, in such weather as
we have had, have doubtless been specially active.
Quite recently, as our readers are aware, Mr.
Worthington Smith has been so fortunate as to
detect and demonstrate the seed-spore, as we may
fittingly term it, and the organ by which that seed-
spore is fertilised and rendered capable of germinating.
What the precise conditions are under which these
resting-spores, which are the true analogues of seeds,
are produced, it would be premature to say. We
know that they have hitherto been looked for in vain,
and therefore the presumption is that they are, under
ordinary circumstances, to say the least, not common.
We know, too, the conditions under which these seed-
spores were found in the Chiswick specimens, and the
particular form of the disease which was observed in
connection with them in certain varieties of potato.
But we do not think we are justified, at present, in
stating absolutely that that particular form of disease,
be it the old "curl" or something different, is neces-
sarily associated with the existence of resting-spores,
Further experience is required before coming to a ver-
dict on this head. Any plan that protects the haulm
from the invasion of the bud-spores is likely to be use-
ful in mitigating, if not entirely preventing, the disease.
The good effects of cutting off the haulm, laying it,
earthing it up nearly to the top, covering it, all depend
on the principles we have just alluded to. They
cannot be thoroughly effectual because the spawn,
and perhaps the seed-spore, are within the tissues of
the hmilm, leaf, or tuber, or of all three at once, and
from this coign of vantage they cannot be dislodged.
Now that the life history of the pest is so much better
known, we know what plans of prevention or of cure
are certain to be futile, and that, if only a negative
benefit, is one not to be lightly esteemed. It is some-
thing to be able to know what we can and what we
cannot do towards a remedy. We need not grope
about at random now. We have certain guiding
principles to go upon which will spare much labour in
the wrong direction, and it is not unreasonable to
hope that they will furnish the clue to a more efficient
method of treatment than any yet adopted. Mean-
time, we can only reiterate what experience has proved
to be good practice—to trust as far as may be to the
early kinds, and to lift early.