The Sun.
London, England, 1846-08-26 00:00:00

THE POTATO DISEASE CAUSE

BY INSECTS.
(From the Glasgow Herald.)

We are indebted to a Cambusiang iarmer for the
following remarks on this painfully interesting sub-

ject:—
" It may be said by some that the primary matter of
importance, in connexion with the unfortunate malady
which has assailed the potato crop, is to provide a cure.
I consider, however, that the first point of information
to be obtained is the nature of the disease itself, and the
causes which have produced it. No surgeon who wishes
to do his patient justice will prescribe the medicine, and
then try to find out the disease. lam satisfied that I
found out the disease, and did so last • year, but was
laughed at for my pains. lam now prepared with proof
that the potato disease, both this year and last, was pro-
duced by the assaults of insects. In ISI9, oats %vete
affected with the same disease—viz., by a small insect of
a different colour; in a great many parts of the country-
the green oats got ripe in a day or two, and had a strcug
smell, but when they were cut it put an end to the
disease. Many people may well remember also that in
1826 some fields of oats were attacked by the same
malady, and many of the shearers, when employed
in reaping, had their arms all covered with this
small insect. The green field of oats emitted a strong
smell, but wht n cut it put an end to the disease, as
above. In 1842 the turnips were affected by the same
insects, and in many cases they became a complete
fsilure. According to accounts, the disease was much
worse in England than in Scotland ; but I know, in my
own district, of some fields of turnips amongst which
scarcely a sound one could be got, and, what is very
strange, in some cases the root end of tha turnip was
first affected with rot, although the insect only partook
of the shaw, and the disease did its w ork in a very short
time. In 1842, also, the bean crop was attacked by the
same insect, and was rendered a miserable crop in many
cases ; but also when cut and dried up the disease dis-
appeared. In 1845, about the middle of September, I
wondered what was the reason of the ptato shaw failing
so fast, and paid them a visit or two, and saw the same
malady as at present, but gave little attention to it, as
potatoes were never known to fail in the same way
in our land before. The cry got up, however, that
the potatoes were diseased over the whole country,
but by that time the insect had disappeared, and had
left the malady its the potato ; but it was different
from its appearance in the oats and beans, as the
vegetable nature of the potato does not allow them to
be dried up in the same way. I have obtained ample
proofs as to the insects being the cruse of the disease.
I know, in my own district, a farmer who had a field of
potatoes to a considerable extent safe, and they remained
so ; but the reason was plain : they were ripe by this
time, and the insect could neither get nourishment nor
shelter from a bare stem. I know another neighbour
who cut the shaws from the potatoes for the purpose of
digging for the Glasgow market, and left a small quan-
tity of those cut in the ground till common digging
tunic; these were all safe, but the others, where the
shams were allowed to remain, had all become diseased.

I knew some cases in moorlands, and in low marshy
grounds where the potatoes were frosted to the ground
about the Ist of September, they were not diseased, and
the reason of it is plain, viz., the insect could not par-
take of a rotten thaw. Early potatoes, too, were all
pretty safe last year, and that was on account of their
being ripe. But they are nearly as bad as other potatoes
this year. lam perfectly satisfied that if any person
had potatoes at full size, and no disease amongst them,
that cutting the shows to the ground would save them;
but if diseased, I have obtained proofs that they will
decay faster than those uncut. Potatoes are some-
times diseased, perhaps, a day or two before it is
‘isible to the eye, and this insect, though very small,
appears to be of so poisonous a nature as to affect
the constitution of the whole plant at once. The
insect is yellow upon the potato, blueish upon
the bean; greenish upon the turnip; and a dark red
upon the oats. It is about the size of a large mite; has
two long horns, black eyes, six feet, or legs; with a small
tail, somewhat like hairs; it has a small head, and a
large body; and varies in shape, according to its age. I
am satisfied that potatoes will become sound, without
any other cure, should the insect leave us— but it may
never leave our land altogether, it may have troubled our
country longer than any person is aware of; and as for
its progeny I will not attempt to say anything about
them. I mean to state nothing here but what I can prove.
It has been alleged for years that the potato bad become
deteriorated, and would require to be renewed; butwhen
had we a crop like 1845? It is not a common thing for
run-out seed to raise such a crop. lam perfectly satis-
fied that a renewal of seed might be of much value; but
how to effect that will require some study, for I have a
neighbour who has :potatoes raised from the apple or
plum, and they are diseased already before arriving at
maturity—this being only their second year; and I am
informed that those from America are diseased also. I
am satisfied that any man who lays prejudice aside, and
makes a thorough investigation of the potato, will soon
satisfy himself of the nature of the disease at the
present time, when the potato and insect are in
progress. Wherever it appears to set in upon
the blade, it decays at once, or partakes of
the stem, shich becomes like a piece of wood.
I am of opinion, too, that the potato is more likely
to be affected by an insect than many plants, owing to
the nature of its growth, for the young potato receives
no nourishment from the roots ; the roots nourish the
shaw, and the sbaw supports the young potato. Some
persons attempt to say that the insect is nut created
until the potato is diseased ; but, in reVy to this, I have
only to ask one question, and that is--Is the gooseberry
bush diseased before the caterpillar attacks it ? I think
no man will attempt to say so ; but it very soon after
, I),cortu s diseased ; for, although this insect does not
partake of the berry, it nevertheless speedily decals.
What dues the gardener say with regard to the apple tree?
' I have seen the, blossom falling off, and the young apple
malting its appearance very beautifully, when a cater-
pillar or maggot was found upon the tree, covered as it
were with a coat of mail resembling a spider's web, and

when this was the case the young apples fell off as if
they had got a night's frost. ti great deal has been
written with regard to the potato to little purpose.
Some will be ready to say the same of this, but I am
perfectly prepared to prove my position as to the cause
of the potato disease. I own, it is true, that great care
ought to be taken with regard to the pitting of seed
potatoes to keep them in their natural condition ; if
kept too damp, they become callous if too dry, they
lose their proper nutriments ; and if too warm, they
will begin to grow before spring is ready for them. In
1845 I knew a farmer who planted an acre or two of
potatoes in the month of December, and again in the
month of March, 1846, he planted another quantity, and
those planted in the month of March showed the first
braird and the best crop, but are all now diseased."

A WEALTHY FARRIER.—The late John Swinford,
Esq., of Minster Abbey, Isle of Thanet, whose much la-
mented death, occasioned by a fall from his horse, took place
on the 4th inst., in the 81st year of his age, is reported to
have died possessed of a quarter of a million of money, which
enormous wealth, it is said, he has bequeathed in fair and
just proportions to his nephews and nieces, Mr. J. Swinford,
Mr. H. Swinford, Mr. S. Swinford, Mr. S. Collard, Mr. J. S.
Basset, Mr. H. Horne, Miss Swinford, Mrs. Francis, Mrs. F.
Fox, Mrs. Cornish, and Miss Home ; and to his grand-
nephews and grand-nieces, Mr. D. Swinford, Mr. J. J. Wad-
dington, Mr. H. Waddington, Miss Waddington, Miss J.
Waddingten, and Miss F. Wordsworth. To the Marquis of
Conyngham a small parcel of land which it was desirable to
add to the Minster Abbey estate. Nor have the poor and
needy been forgotten. The benevolent testator has left his
nephew, Mr. H. Horne, 4001. in trust to pay the interest an-
nually, on St. Thomas's-day, to certain poor old women be-
longing to Minster. To the Kent and Canterbury Hospital,
100/. ; to the Royal Sea-Bathing Infirmary, 501; to each of
his servants, 19/. 195.; to each of his farm servants, 51.; to
every poor inhabitant of Minster, rated in the last assessment
at 41. or under, 51. Mr. J. Swinford, Mr. S. Swinford, and
Mr. J. S. Basset, nephews of the deceased, are appointed
joint-executors and co-trustees.—Canterbury Journal.
FLIGHT OF INSECTS.—A singular phenomenon oc-
curred here on Sunday last. During the entire day a heavy
murky atmosphere prevailed, hardly a breath of air being
perceptible, while the close dull warmth was most oppressive.
About two o'clock a small but thick and dark cloud was dis-
cernible hanging, as it were, around the lion, at the top of
the old castle tower, so dark, indeed, as almost to obscure
the figure. On ascending the castle, and going out on the
leads, it was found that this thick cloud was composed of
myriads of insects, which we are not entymologists enough
to describe by name, but which appeared like large
winged ants. These insects settled on the iron rods which
support the figure of the lion, while thousands clung to the
walls and the floor of the tower. Many thousands of them
fell on the leads, where they gradually died. In an hour or
two the great bulk of them-had taken their departure, but
large numbers were left behind in a dying state. We picked
up a handful of them, dead and dying; and when placed on
a paper those which still retained life showed no disposition
to motion. They have expansive wings, their bodies being
dark and shining. Their heads are somewhat large, and
they are apparently armed with powerful forceps.—Lewes
paper.
ANECDOTE BY COUNSEL.—At the Cork assizes Mr.
G. Bennett, canvassing the term " temperate habits " in a
policy of insurance, said, " The late Sir Hercules Langrishe
was exceedingly fund of drinking, and being ill he consulted
the celebrated Dr. Plunket, who advised him to drink only a
glass of wine in the day. Sir Hercules promised to obey,but
the doctor called in upon him a day or two after, and seeing
his patient a little out of order, said to him, ' I hope you fol-
lowed out my advice.' I did,' replied the other. ' Well,'
says the doctor, ' I am anxious to see the size of the glass,'
upon which Sir Hercules brought in a glass which contained
two quarts.—(Laughter:) The doetor then restricted Sir
Hercules to a pint of wine in the day; and on the following
one, having called on his patient, told him to stick to that
quantity and it would lengthen his days. ' 1 believe you,
said Sir Hercules, ' for yesterday was the longest day I ever
spent.' "
DISTRAINT AND RESCUE.—CORK, SATURDAY.--Be-
tween one and two o'clock last night a large number of per-
sons, to the number of about sixteen, assembled, and pro-
ceeded to the lands of Browningstown, in the neighbourhood
of this city, where there was a large quantity of corn in
charge of keepers, belonging to a person named Flyn, which
had been seized by Richard Longfield Jameson, Esq., re-
ceiver under the courts of Chancery, for arrears of rent due.
On arriving at the premises they demanded admission into
the barn where the corn was stored, threatening the keepers
that if they did not open the door they would break it in
and murder them. Those inside being apprehensive that
violence would be used towards their persons, refused to
give them admission, upon which they broke in the door,
and knocked down the keepers, one of whom afterwards
succeeded in effecting his escape through a window in the
attic of the barn. The party then tied the other man's
hands behind him, and some of them. suggested that they
I should put the rope round his neck and strangle him, but
this was resisted by others. Information of the transaction
having been conveyed to Constable John Cudmore, of the
Capwell station, he proceeded with some of his party in
pursuit of the offenders, and succeeded in arresting two of
them carrying off a car load of the corn. Both of them
were brought before the Mayor this morning, and being illy
identified as being of the party who attacked the barn, were
remanded to take their trial.—Cork Reporter.
The wires of the electric telegraph
of Munich, which
the Munich and Augsburg Railroal, have been
connected with
cover red
with
a coating invented by Professor Stenhei,
possesses the virtue of protecting them from lightning, and
to prevent accidents.