Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-12-18
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For he Green Mountain Freeman,
The POtatOe Disease,

lu6 IOIdtVG UiStdSt,
MEssRs. EDIToRs;-As the potatoe rot has again
visited the present year. and much has been said
it and as have read heard any cause assign
ed for it that accorded with my views | thought
would pen few brief remarks which you are at lib
ery to place in your columns or reject just as you
may see fit sa.
"a have been informed that some gentleman or gen
tlemen Of your village has offered reward Of fifty dol
lars to any person who shall discover the real cause Of
the rot but am not particular about the reward, at
least until the scientific world shall have decided
whether the view here taken of the subject correct
became satisfied in my own belief, as to the cause
ayear ago this harvesting and about to give my
views to the public, when, on consulting with some
who were skeptcal to the correctness Of them and
being then satisfied that the rot would again visit us
this year. delayed till could make further expert
entS; and having this year made further experiments,
it has resulted think to satisfy all who have witness
ed hem that the position here taken is the correct
one sagf. ..
The cause or rather causes of the rot, are two, viz;
list High cultivation or unnatural habit
2nd. Atmospheric.
Let u.s. firstly, them reflect that the potatoe root,
we are acquainted with it. is not in its natural state,
but is in cultivated improved and bloated and con-
seeueny TENDER sicky state and liable to diseases,
feet that causes to produce effect must always be the
result of combined principles, and that has long been
the opinion of men Of science that the cause of the
sweeping sickness which visit our planet, among man
kind and domesticated animals lies in the state of the
atmosphere; that the unnatural habits to which they
are subjected accustomed improve the constitution
and prepare it for those sweeping maladies when the
atmosphere is in state to give the finishing stroke
and see no cause, physologicay, why the same
parity of reasoning will not truly apply to cultivated
vegetables whose habits are unnatural, as it will to
mankind and animals whose habits are unnatural; but
what impurities the atmosphere possesses, at such
times, Or what principles superfuous, what ones
deficient, is wholly unknown to the writer.
prepared the last planting season, potatoe field
consisting Of about three acres divided into about three
equal parts, lying side by sde in the following way:
The first which shall describe, was in a state Of
high cultivation having been powed and MANFRED for
several years. The second was green-sward, broke
up in the spring, on which put a middling coat Of
manure. The third was green-sward prepared like the
second but without any manure it having had none
for about eight years, and having been cropped by
moving through that period of time; and on the whole
planted potatoes. The first of these was badly ef-
fected by the rot the second somewhat but less than
the first the third, very slightly, only at the root
The tops of the whole field were equally effected by the
signs which precede the rot at the root This proves
very conclusivey, Think that the above conclusions
respecting the rot are correct and by taking off the
richness of soil which has, in the course of time bro
the potatoe to its high state perfection can avoid
the rot or at least of it. though, in such case the
crop will be but light and it is to be remembered that
there is the hereditary principle of disease in the seed
and atmospheric causes yet to be overcome.
That one of the principal causes of disease lies in
the atmosphere proved by the fact that the top
vine, is first to be effected, and often shows the sign
of the rot while the root holds out to be free from it
And again, potatoes most effected are those exposed to
the action Of the atmosphere growing ly-
ing in the earth or those coming in contact with un-
mixed animal or vegetable manure, which keeps the
earth loose and light lets in the air, which produces
the animalcuG which probably constitutes the rot
and further that all cultivated vegetables the present
year. are more or less effected with the same principle
Newly cleared lands more inclined to the rot,
at least, as much SO as old, richly manured lands
Specimens of the rot always to be seen on such
lands previous to its general appearance in l843 The
old English whites, as they called, have always
shown signs of the ro-it being the highest cultivated
variety [species we have; the red spots them be-
ing the first stages of the rot. l know that there
Railways prejudice in the public mind to combat in the
discovery Of any such philosophical truth Yet have
doubt but in the course of me sooner or later the
scientific world will accord with the above taken views
of the subject SIMEON FARNSWORTH.
Walden, Oct. 6, 1945.
Since writing the above, have seen an editorial
from the National Integencer stating that scenti-
c Frenchman had discovered that the rot in potatoes
was owing to vegetable mushroom penetrating the
potatoe &C. The searchers after the of the rot
mistake effects for causes.
se Anamalcule, vegetable mushrooms maggot worm
in the vine, rust &c. are all effects different ap-
pearances of disease-not the cause Of disease: the
results of disorder--not the cause of it. ST.
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