The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1845-09-02


TAINT OR DRY ROT IN THE PoTAToE.--
From the experience had in the cultivation
of the potatoe, have come TO the conclu-
sion that the faint or dry rot owes its origin
entirely to an njudicious method Of planting
the seed; and afier mature consideration
have adopted system of planting, which |
have practsed for twenty years with such
success, as never once to have had an in
stance IF dry rot among my Potatoe crops
during that time, although they were growing
sJmelmes in direct contiguity TO other Po-
tatoes, which from being planted in differ
ert manner, were laboring under the effects
of the disease. 1t shall now be my endeav-
or, in as simple and concise manner as pos
sible, to lay this system before my readers,
convinced that they will in practice find it
most electual remedy for the disease in
question. The chief cause of this disease
consider TO be the prevalent error in plant
ing the Potatoe, Of placing the seed in
quantity of dung laid in the middle of tho
hill. He who knows anything of the quail
ties Of dung, knows 1t is of itself incapable
Of promoting vegetation, or sustaining vege-
table life, until decomposed and incorporat-
! ed with portion of earthly soil, and it is
not therefore to be wondered at that disease
and failures in the Potatoe crops are so pre-
valent. The wonder is, while such system
of planting is persevered in, any of these
crops should succeed at all under such treat
ment; and indeed this is only to be account
ed for by the small quantity and inferior
quality of the dung applied, which is
generally found mixed with great guam
titles of half-rotten straw and other ex-
traneous substances, such as ceal-cinders,
Sc, and were it net that the fresh earth is
laid Immediately on the top of the dung after
the seed is planted, the failure of the crops
would be to much larger extent; of this |
hive no doubt. The ground, too, if in
very impoverished state, may, by speedily
digestiug and drying up the dung, prevent
to great extent total failure of the crop,
al hough the seed we're planted thus injudi-
ciousIy in the midst of the dung; for it will
be observed that in such ground the rot is
not so destructive as in rich soils. The first
and great point, therefore, in setting the Po-
tatoe, is TO have the manure properly COM
mingled with the soil before Introducing the
seed, the plan adoptin planting; which is
briefly as follows
In preparing parcel of ground for the re-
cepon of the Potatoe seed, proceed to
have the manure spread regularly over the
surface, and evenly dug in. | then either
drill the ground, after the manner OF garden
ers in sowing peas and plant the Potatoes in
the drill, or plant them with a dibble, without
drilling, about two or three inches beneath
the surface, the dbble being formed with
broad point, so as to insure the Potatoe having
no space lef beneath it when dropped into
the hole. For large fields, which cannot
we'll be dug or planted in this manner,
would recommend the ground to be prepar-
ed and the dung spread exactly as for Oats
or Barley. Then have the ground drilled,
and in planting place the seed Potatoe in
the clean soil, on the back of the half drill
! formed by the return of the plough, which
} half drill should be made larger than ordi-
J nary, to bring the seed as near TO the centre
of the drill as possible, so as to afford it eve-
ry advantage of the fresh soil TO vegetate in!
l In this way the fructfying earth, in which
J the seed is embedded, will secure its health
5 full vegetation, and as 1t progresses IN It's
growth, and so soon as it throws out roots, it
r will reap the full benefit of the manure con-
I tained in the surrounding soil. 1t is of the
utmost Importance to have the seed planted,
so as that it may have the earth both below
and above it when put in; for in keeping the
seed free from the dung apprehend lies the
whole secret, which should be particularly
attended to-From a0ork on this subject,
) by J. Smith.