The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-08-31 00:00:00

Referring to the foregoing, which is of more than
ordinary Interest to every household, the Dusty News
remarks :

- ---- -
The potato does not occupy so important a place in the
food supply of our population as it did five-and.twenty years
ago, neither is Mr. Gladstone so anxious about the failure of
that eecuient am sir Robert Peel VIM in 1047. Nevertheless, the
fact that we are on the eve of &potato famine has appeared to
the Premier, serious one, and he has suggested to Dr. Hooker
—who we are glad to see still date, from Item—to advise
the public how they may make the most of the
diseased tubers. Accordingly, Dr. Hooker explains a
simple method of effecting this object, whlcu he says
was that introduced by the late Professor Henslow
into certain villages in Suffolk. As the method is essentially
the one that has always been to use in manufactures, we sup-
pose that the credit claimed for Mr. Henslow is that of adapt-
ing it to the simple means within the reach of every household.
Dr. Hooker says that the method depends on the fact that
"the starch of the potato is not affected by the disease,
but retains Its nutritirre properties." Dr Hooker deserves
thanks for calling attention to this little-known fact.
The importance of his statement will be seen when it con-
sidered that for the purpoeee of nutriment the starch
H the potato. If we take a raw potato and submit it ,
to analysis, we end that of every 100 pacts no fewer
than 751arei meter, while of the remaining 25 which constitute
Its dry nutritive matter, 20 are starch. Four-littlm, then, of
the solid part of the potato are starch, and whatever nourish-
ment we may and in it is owing to this constituent. When,
therefore, Dr. Hooker nays that the starch Is not affect's' by
the disease, bat retairui its useful properties, he meanenhat
all that I. really valuable iu the potato may be saved from
the wreck and ruin of the tkber in which It exists. But the
recovers, of the starch will cost trouble? Truly that is in-
evitable ; but it is better to save a useful product wijh
trouble than to let it go to waste. The starch saved, the
trouble would then represent what We had actually lost by
the potato disease.
We can imagine easy-going people, with a Well-stored
greengrocer's shop round the corner, thinking that such an
operation as this is very wearisome, and most unlikely to be
carried cut; but the circumstances in which it in recom-
mended should be considered. There are whole parishes,
and in Ireland it is to be feared whole counties, where
the utter failure of the potato has left oottagers and
farm labourers withont the food on which they bad relied
for the coming winter. Dr. Hooker invites chemists
to examine this subject, and oonMder whether it may
not be possible to du something, whether by driving
01/ the water of the potatoes by heat or in some other way, to
preserve the armed tubers, and the sound parts of diseased
tubers, for winter use. He also urges all who have influence
with the people to eneourage the consumption of the beet•
root and turnip-tops, as well as the laying in of dried hari-
cots, with various other pulses and beans which form the
cheap, agreeable, and most nutritious food of the popula-
tions of many tropical countries.
As most who have made the experiment know, there is as
much chance of persuading a mint, change his religion as
of inducing him to give up his favourite vegetable for
another. Now, however, that the potato le being taken
away from us an opportunity may be afforded of making the
acquaintance of many articles of vegetable diet which we
might never have tasted while we had it. Al for the starch
which is left at the en! of Dr. Hooker's process for treating
potatoes, it may diminish the prejudice attaching to the
mental association of that article with the laundry rather
than with the kitchen or the dinner-table, to observe that
sago, tapioca, and arrowroot are only so many starches,
although no cambric was ever glossier for the discovery.

In connection with Dr. Hooker's letter, and in re-
ference to the subject generally, the following commu-
nications have been sent to The Times for publica-
tion :

May I ask for space for a few words on Professor Booker's
lettev to The Times of yesterday
- -

I or there is but little probability of his propoettion as to
prating potatoes into a tub of water for the purpose of pre-
servang the starch for food being carried out by our agricut
Viral labouring population it is of rather too scientific a
nature for practical purposes with that class. I am of
opinion that they bad better boil the diseased tubers for the
pigs: or, if it happens they cannot afford, or are not allowed
to keep a pig, try to exchange their faulty growth with the
farmers fir whize peas, the use of which every country-bred
housewife understands.

itanoes,
diseased

Diseased potatoes, if boiled, are nearly, if not quite, as
valuable for pig-feeding as sound ones.
Professor Hooker suggests the use of beetroot and dried
haricots, xte. Beetroot, with the farm-labourer's ordinary
accompaniments to his vegetable diet—namely,—a flour-
and-water dumpling, with a bit of sh ut lard, or, at hrst a
small portion of fat bacon,. would not, I imagine, be very
palatable, and, as for hartc.tts. I w.uld venture a small
wager than the labourer? car ens throughout the omntry
would not average two quarts of such pulse apiece at the
present time.
Whet might be done with considerable advantage is this:
all the ripe potatoes might be cleared off the ground at once,
and their place token by cabbage °tants and turnip seed of a
quick growing kind. By this means, well within the scope
el the cottatzer's practical knowledge, though not usually
applied so advantageously quite as it might be, quantities of
winter and spring produce might be grown.
With respect to "the foliage of the turnip "--eeheelring
field-grown ones are meant-1 have only to suggest that few
farmers would consent to having their standing turnip.
"topped" in the winter—firstly, because the root would rot
with the first severe fruit; and, secondly, because in the
spring the tops are required for the " wet ' flocks Theory
and practice are often such very different things. Perhaps
our greatest hope in the matter is that, favoured by the line
harvest weather we are experiencing, we may have" a cheap
loaf," which, after all. Is the mainstay with the rural poor.—
I am, lc., RUSTIC.
August 24.

Perceiving from your columns that grave consequences to
the food supply of the country are expected to result from
the present widespread disease of the potato, I am induced
to ask the favour of publicity for the following observations,
should you consider them to possess any practical value
as affording a safeguard against the attacks of the disease in
future.

-
Let me, thew, address myself In the first place to the fact
that while in the gardens on each side of mine the potatoes
are badly diseased, those in my garden have escaped, alto-
gether, and I think I may fairly ascribe this immunity not
to mere chance alone, but to the method and precaution
taken in their cultivation.

My potato plot was last winter cropped with green., mul
In the spring woo dug over, and without adding any manure
the seta were planted 21t. apart one way and lift. the other
way, In shallow trenches. In due course soil was drawn to
the haulm, and was finally left in ridges of about 71n. deep
and about 141 n, broad at the top.
The wide cropping and deep ridging amply provided both
for ventilation and drainage, which left the soil around Mae
tubers nice and dry.
- • - .

I would here remark that about five weeks ago, shortly
after a thunderstorru. I noticed that the leaves had been
smitten with numerous dark-coloured spots, which I took for
blight, and thinking it might be the forerunner of disease, I
at once pinched off about four inches of the top of each and
every star, supposing that in so doing, if my fears were
correct, It would act ass preventive, and it is owing to thin
precaution, and to the mode of cultivation, that I ecnsider
my potatoes have escaped disease.
I would beg to add, it conclusion, that the "Scotch Reds"
and the "Kent Regents" which I am now using average a
yield of 21b, per root, and they have not yet done growing.
I took up a root of nukes only a few days ago which num-
bered 76 potatoes, every one sound, and 62 of them a sire fit
, for table —I am, &c., I. P. P.
Woolwich, Aug. 24.

In the present sad state of the potato crop, let me call
attention to the fact that disease is as much heree Mary
In plants an it is lu man. So lot g as unhealty seed shall
be planted, so long will our potato mops be specially
liable to the &sew, lust In like manner as a person of weak
constitution at once succumbs to surrounding conditions '
which do not affect the strong, healthy man Mall. Acting ,
upon this view, I have for years carefully selected my
potatoes for seed, and, upon the assumption that the disease
reaches the potato through the haulm, have always e ejected
the whole of the produce of any plant which preseeted any
appearance of disease; and. although this may have been
manifested on cal, one of its 40 or 60 potatoes, and even on
this but slightly, I have rejected them all as of "tainted
blood." fhe practical result hu been an almost complete
immunity from the disease. My present crop yields three
heaped bushels per rod (four of the potatoes weigh three
roundel is now being dug up, and no signs of disease can be
discovered.
Your own report to day from Wolverhampton as to the
freedom from disease of the imported American red rose
potatoes seems to support my view have the honour to
be, Ac. FREW. F. HALLIffT.
The Manor-hence, Brighton, Aug. 23.

Dr. Hooker's letter In The Times upon the best meant of
preserving the potato farina remaining In the diseased tut era
of Vie plant has attracted my attention. Any remarks
which may tend to afford information on so inporsant a sub-
ject as the too supply, cap chilly of the pour, will lam
sure secure your favour and attention.
. .

First of all, it will be interesting to know what change
occurs in tne tither during the progress of the disease. An
examination of a healthy potato showed the preset re of
about 75 per cent, of water, 16 per cent, of stack, 2 to 26
per cent, of albumen, fibrous matter about riper cent , gum
I 5 per cent, the remainder being c ilouring matter, a sub-
stance giving flavour, called potatine, and mineral ieibatences.
Another potato from the some bulk, but which was diseased
when analyzed, wee found to be wanting in albumen .pd m
sugar. The amount of starch, gum, and fibrous matter re-
mained unaltered. Consequently, the dimmed tuber may be
considered to have undergone a species of asotic fermentation,
In whkh the albumen decompose,, and in itimestruotlon the
sugar of the tuber Is involved and disappears. The starch
in both the healthy and dimmed tuber IA altered in amount.
In appearance that of the diseased tuber is much discolonred,
but otherwise Is not deteriorated le Its quality and value.
The method given by Dr. ib.lier as the one originally pro-
posed by the Rev. Professor lienslow was publicly recom-
mended at this institution Ins set lea of lectures on the potato
due.., given about twenty lear. back by the enymical pro-
tensor in the daily lectures. It is the most simple, and at
the same time the most effective, means of saving • consider-
able amount of the potato food.
• • e•beeset that if the tnberi when first discovery
- • K. a very weak solution of C
--Aloe in them

I would suggest that if the tuber 3 when tint discovered
to be unsound were treeed by a very weak solution of car-
bolic acid, the decomposition then proceeding in them
would be arrested, and some petious of the nitrogenous
matter saved This would make the eventful product of
their treatment as above proposed more valuable as a nutri-
tive article. It cannot be objected that, as carbolic acid le
pointed., it would render Was Who ex The moll modal

would be neeedful would be harmleas u
and jn washing and preparing the Mann. u An the
...sad tuber the carbolic acid would be entirely removed.
A sound potato is add to test paper, a (linseed tuber Is
strongly alkaline, and, from the presence of ammonia.
Evidently, therefore, the potato disease arises from a fer-
mentation from some cause of the nitrogenous matter in the
potato, which, when perfected, involves the destruction-of
much of Its substance and deg/iterates the farina The
Morahan, however, In the meet advanced stages of dismal
In tubers ore but little affected, and may be procured quite
good in the manner pointed out. sin, &C.
EDWARD V. GARDNER, Professor Of GilyMilerl.
goyal Polytechnic Institution, Aug. 26.
HOW TO PROTECT SOUND POTATOES.