The New York herald., 1844-11-20


thing had occurred Gildenlesve. we understand,
naa been laborlng under severe cold, caught IN
MS severe training, al the end of last week, which
Drought ON q cough as well as q running at the
his progress-but FT3
"It is not for mors:ls to command ,uecsss;
- They may do more-deserve IL
Farmers' Club-American Institute-Thc
Disease OF tho Potato.
Yesterday being the regular day of the. meeting
Of the g Farmers' Club, the theatre of the Amer
lean Institute at the appointed hour opened to
the admission of the members, and all others
who felt an interest in the further development Of
such facts as might be elected from competent ex-
perience upon the postponed discussion of the
Disease of the Potato" The manifest interest
upon this vital question seems to increase, by the
doubts and difficulties which, in Germany, Eng
land and the United States, from published opin-
ions, well personal observation, embarrass the
enquirer, as he cautiously weighs the causes, and
as yet fruitlessy proposes the remedy 1t is TO be
regretted that when this cheap, nutritious, and in
dispensibIe commodity forms medium Of susie
nance to the great majority OF the human family,
that in the several discussions we have attended
upon this momentous topic, the pecunary interests
Of the farmer have, In every instance, yielded to
the more important dsquisitions, as to the pois-
onous or deleterious effects upon the constitution
Of man Of a vegetable 50 Indispensable, from
habit, as well as necessity. to his comfort. At IL
o'clock the chair was taken by General Chandler,
and II. M. Melgs, Esq undertook the duties OF
Secretary. The attendance of the farmers was
thin, but their absence was supplied by voluminous
COMMUNICATIONS, which, in the end were consigned
to the tomb of the Capulets, or more properly to
special committee, to discuss their respective
merlts-condemn or approve, pro re mates, and re-
lieve the venerable officers OF the Club from all
vulgar. personalities regarding their smother
earth" AAt
The secretary had penetrated about one quarter
through the report OF the proceedings Of the last
meeting, when member very sensibly moved the
dspensatlon Of this lnlliction any further, as Col
Clark wished to express few word son the subject
ofthe expectation Of clover TO Cuba seed letter
from Doctor Stebblns, Of Northampton, was read,
IN which that gentleman assigned to the members
of the silk convention a stronger attachment to
politics than to the interest of the silk operations;
and stated his readiness to prepare different varie
ties OF foliage tor the preparation Of paper; three
tons duly prepared would be equal to one ton ii,
for the manufacture The President suggested
that the proceedings OF the Silk Committee should
be published BY fund TO be raised for that pur.
spontaneous growth Of forest trees and grasses upon
lands where no native plant ever appeared. The
writer intimates that if the land is cleared, and
the earth exposed to the sum- white cloverseed will
and was cut down in Jersey, that oak sprung up,
and that nurseries Of young oak are to be found in
pine forests. In South CaroliRa, IN 1902, pecu-
liar disease destroyed the pine, and oak and
hickory succeeded. In the years 1894 and l795,
when maple failed, white cherry succeeded, beach
and maple succeeded hemlock, white cherry and
white ash succeeded hemock the cause the wri.
lands, any other opinion would defeat the order order
and word of Providence, who declared that every
tree would bear fruit " after its own kind" &C.,
according to the Mosaic account, and decided as
his opinion, tina. trees did not grow from created
seed Here conversation occurred as TO the pro-
priety OF occupying the time OF the farmers with
matters irrelevant 10 the subject ofdiscussion which
was opposed BY Mr. Meigs, on the principle that
all subjects tended to enlarge the fund OF informa-
tion, and should be encouraged by general refe.
renee at all times.
The President declared that the subject had been
decided as belonging to a committee. Then came
a long communication from Jos. Lodge, recon.
mending his views the cultivation of the potato,
viz. ploughing in the spring, Tree use of the har
row at the proper time; next manure, long and
middle of July. The remedy the writer suggests,
is, to enter the field with two poughs; plough to
the depth Of two and four inches dig in cross.
plough and harrow no late crop pays for planting
Long Island and Jersey plant late in the fall The
manure he recommends is stable manure, sea sand
and bulock's blood. By,pnughing in only one
depth the water does not drain off. This theory
his opinion that no ploushing should take place
before planting; the beds should be narrow, with
good trenches, TO allow the water to run off, He
recommends bringing up the sub soil three times in
the season, and thereby increase the drain. Here
there was another interruption by gentleman who
stated that the club had been occupied in general
practical remarks, lengthy, but usefal-sti they
Were designed mo? more appropriately for an agncul
Mr.. Lodge, when Anthony Dey moved the suspen-
sion of all further readings Of communications
that such should be filed, with an index, for the
pro and con were then moved, to the great inter-
ruptien OF the regular subject of discussion, when
It was finally decided to use Mr.. Megs as the
censor OF all compuncations This proposition
emphasis, piteously deploring the quantity Of time
labor and health he had devoted to the cause Of
the club. From his account he was like st. Paul
'n labors more abundant" lin watchings, often,"
reports, till in the morning animal strength
sustained him. He never had headache in his
life He had sat nine hours in completing report,
but his labor, not of profit but of love to the
science. In fact, he avowed himself martyr 10
the cause, but opposed to the labor Of reading and
deciding on the merits of each volumnious article
The PRESIDENT rose and said, that potatoes, and
potatoes only, was the order OF the meeting.
Mr.. MEres then read a long article from The s.Lon.
don Farmers Journal" 1874, on the cultivation OF
the potato This article made mystery more mys-
ferrous developed no new characteristic, no cause
no remedy-and then followed from Mr.. Fishmarsh
continuation OF his remarks from the last meet
ing's proceedings These were merelya a repetition
Of his former written remarks
DR.. GARDNER next gave the Club the most inter
esting history OF the disease of any yet offered
He made close and scientific examination of the
disease in all its stages and produced various spe
cimens Of the progress from incipient growth to
comparative maturity. He is convinced, from mi
croscopic examination, that the fungus is the chief
cause; commencing on the skin of the potatoe
with little round hobs or elevations about the eyes
when the skin is not broken; when broken the skin
opens and black fungus is evident, like black
w%art spreading and expanding itself SO to forma
diseased t is formed either into dry sponsy
substance, or is converted into mass of soft putr
tying substance. His Recommendation of treating
the disease would be to avoid farm yard manure;
which, IN state OF fermentation, produces every
species of fungus, brought into existence and nour-
shed by heat. In the wheat crop in England no
smut has been found except where dung was bro.