The New York herald., 1844-11-13
Farmers' Club-American Institute-The d.
sease In Potatoes.

sease IN fSOtatocss
Yesterday the regular meeting OF the Farmers
Club took place in the theatre Of the American
Institute. N order, II possible, TO ascertain the
causes which have produced the :" Disease of the
Potatoe," and how tar il could be remedied in the
future culture OF that invaluable but highly SIAN
dered vegetable. AT haIfpast twelve, the chair
was occupied by the President, General Tallmadge,
and the duties Of Secretary devolved upon J.
Meigr. ESP The President briefly stated the spe-
cial object Of the meeting, End requested, as the
usual course pursued on similar occasions, that
each farmer present would furnish verbally his in
diyidusl opinion on the subject OF enquiry, begin.
Ming on the efi OF the chair. Previous, however,
TO which, he expressed his readiness TO receive
any communication that might be reserved for the
Club, dispensing with the reading OF the proceed.
ags cf the last meeting. A communication was
then read from the Secretary OF an Agricultural
Society al Havana, requesting from the Farming
sccisty a New York such information Tor the
growth Of clover in Cuba, as would Justify them In
trying such experiment upon that island.
discussion uron the relative merits Of white and
red clover, clearly justified the impression that in
warm lantudes the latter, unless mixed with II
notify, produced a disease in cattle called the
water brash. The communication was eventually
eft 20 a committee OF three, with full power TO de-
eide and report upoa the question. There was
also another communication from Mr. Van Alps,
Il Albany, soliciting aid Tor the introduction Of
silk iiture, &c., 10 this city. This also was re-
lered 10 a committee. A motion was submitted
and adopted that the meetings OF the Farmers'
Club and Agricultural Societies. Committees should
be held simultaneously.
The President then announced his readiness TO
hear the question of Z" Disease in Potatoes re-
.umed, when Mr.. Bows offered long extract
COPIED from the Dubtin FaSMrs' Gasdfe, into the
Nur nriaud Farmers youywai THIS article EN-
braces Two questions -" What IL the cause 7"
and " IL there remedyr' The attempted answer
TO the first inquiry, then met by the universally
acknowledged hberalIty inherent IN every plant Ia
become deieriorated, and the reply To the second
recommended change OF seed-the production
IL a new generation from iubours, and not from
seeds the planting ot the whole eye, and early
planting. This extract contained lew other re,
marks so obviously inconsistent with the general
practice of cultivation, as To carry IFS own con-
demnation upon the surface.
Mr.. MEios stated that during the year 1892, de.
sifoas Of procuring oil the Information he could,
TO the effect OF the disease the vegetable system,
he discovered that the potatoe grew vigorously, buI
that the leaves became crisped, dned, and were
prematurely wiihered. Mr. Megs always doubted
whether potatoes like men, do not wear out by
emigration; and that IN case OF failure, an appll.
cation should be made TO South America, their
ancestoral habitation, from which they have been
abse 800 years, and thereby restore them 10 their
primitive health. As a preventative, Mr.. Fish
marsh, New England farmer, recommended the
free use oil salt attributes the disease 10 insect
which feeds ON the leaves, and descends to the
root and from thence into the ground.
Mr.. WIGMALE, Of Orange county, said that he
raised potatoes tor five years with great success,
but this year his crop tailed. lie planted Irish
imported cups from tubors; they grew luxu.
rIantIy, but subsequently The tors presented
the appearance. as II scaided with water
All potatoes were more or less affected, but
those sown on new land did not yield one
third OF an average crop. He hesltaied in feeding
his cattle with the wi,hered potstoe and in boiling
for family the substance evidently decreased,
and seemed 10 melt away. This gentleman con
sders, generally, nsC land more favorable tor the
production OF the potatoe.
JouN ELwELL, Of Cayuga county, New York,
next volunteered his experience. For two years his
crop was exec lent; but last years planting was
two different fields. In one he did not discover
defective potatoe-in the second there was consi-
derable failure He attributes the cause 10 the
great difference OF local elevation The fie that
produced the defective crop was cultivate various
ly for seventeen years. the other was new ground.
Mr.. Elwell OF opinion that one variety Of the
plant is more liable TO disease than another. The
very pale, red poaoe he com ders less liable to de-
iect In some potatoes, the disease deveopes ltsel
on the surface-in Others, in black spets, destBoy
| ing the flavor. Among other causes, he believes
he state Of the atmosphere may be a prominent
one, producing an effect like the rust in wheat
The disease begins at the top OF the plant and de-
l scends into the fruit He does not consider that
/ early or late sowing makes any difference.
The next farmer who gave his opinion was JAMES
| SMILEY, Of Schenectady county. lie stated that
country, for early use, never failed. This year,
his corn crop failing, he sowed the ground with
potatoes about the 25h OF June. They Al rsi grew
uxurianiy, but subsequently, dwisdled down 10
nothing.
Mr. BLEAKsLEy, of Coyille, New York, des-
cribes the first appearance o the disease IN Sep.
tember by the yellow tinge OF the Leaf The
farmers were generally OF opinion that the
l sap was insufficient 10 sustain the tubour
that the tubour became injured by the drop; redn
cling the starch OF the potatoe, that the bres
perfect, while the tubours were debcIeni; when
the potato was pressed matter freely issued from y
He tried two experiments with two rows-ashss z.
lime 2, gypsum 2; those which were lmed were
most deficient; the manure produced the most via
crop, the best seed, being the hesh-coloreo
potato raised the year before y his neshboIhood q
was imported.
Mr.. MosIKK, Of New York, stated that Mr..
James Hay, OF Westchesier, had three-fourths oi
his crop manured with farm yard manure, and
that all was lost; bu, when he applied concentrated
manure, or poudrette, his crop was healthy aud
abundant the potatoes were sown ~ the same
field.
Mr.. BLAprSnRRo gave IL as his opinion, that
some kinds OF potatoes are less liable Than Others.
year ago he first discovered the detect, not in
he tops but in the root; this year he changed his
seed, sent to Maine Tor MERGERS, and onethifd 81
his crop was detective. He N OF the opinion. that
| The red potatoe is less liable than the Mercera
Mr.. CLARKE, OF Brooklyn, thought that the d,s-
ease proceeds from an animalcua existing on the
/ leaves, and that the tubours perish from want
of nourishment.
Mr. HOLMES, Of New York, knows Mr. Hay
above alluded TO, OF Westchs ster, who sowed y
bushels of poudrette TO the acre. and although ihe
yellow fly got in, he saved - bushels 10 ~,
acre, weighing 90 pounds, and the Nv apPeaied 20
have been exiingushed by the lunurIance oi the
CROP
Mr. BRowS, Of New York, considered ihsi the
disease was imported, being identical with ths, IN
| Great Britain, from potatos arriving from that
country forplanting
Mr. FIsBmARsH, in making a microscopic invcs.
tigaton, discovered fungus, which - vegetable
produced from seeds, and capable Of being waited
| " an English plant. During moist weather lttakes
40 hold. Was OF opinion that common salt y an
| effective remedy. The reason why Potatoes are
a - L. -. -