Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-12-25
=. TILE POTATO DISEASE.


An idea exists in England that the disease or
blight which this year affects the potato crop,
may nextl year infect other crops whlch may
happen to be committed TO the same land-os wheat
or cabbages for example. The American Minister
in London, himself jealous farmer, has been IN
terchanging information and inquiries on this IN
teresting subject with gentlemen Of high attain
ments and consideration who desire to optuin u
statement of such facts as may have been accurate
ly noted in respect to the potato malay ~ tnis Gou
try---as for example, how many years, az AL oe-
fore the present, and what have been the most re-
markable phenomena attending the disease. From
information of this sort an inference may be drawn
with some degree of confidence whether the dlsor-
der has been produced by remarkable atmospheric
influences. pervading this country as well as Eu-
rome and therefore not to be anticipated again, but
under similar circumstances of sudden transitions
from heat to cold, or remarkable degrees and con-
tinuaton of moisture-or extraordinary electrical
influences, or what motor whether supposlng il
to have had its origin in other causes, these causes
may not be expected to recur from year to year, as
does the hessian fly, the blight in potatoes, &c,
The Commissioners appointed in England to
prosecute this important investigation are men with
whose names-KANE, LINDLEY and PLAYFAIR-all
are familiar who have any knowledge of the pro-
gress of science ard industrial pursuits and as the
work in which they are engaged is one of general
concern as well as Of humanity they are entitled
to all the aid that observation and experience can
contribute.
We give below their first Report from the Lon
don Gardeners Chronicle of the first Of Novem-
ber and take the opportunity to solicit from all who
can assist in this important inquiry, any and every
fact which may appear pertinent TO the subject,
with view TO dfuse them as widely as possible,
not only in this country, but through our Minister,
and at his request, TO gentlemen in England, who
have been led, as well by generous public spirit
as by the nature Of their studes to investigate the
cause of disease which promises 10 be attended
with results more disastrous than any thing which
has occurred in the history of vegetable physioo-
gy. The method suggested by the Commissioners
above mentioned for preventing the progress OF the
disease, after The potatoes dug, is confirmed by
the experiments of Doctor HARRINGTON, an eXpe-
rienced physician and farmer in Maryland, who,
without ever having seen this Report, mentioned
on Monday last to the writer Of this that he had
discovered that by putting away his potatoes III
sand which had undergone perfect d,Ssiccafton not
letting them touch each other and covering each
layer with layer Of this perfectly well dried sand,
the disease is completely arrested.
Any information founded on actual observation |
addressed to the undersigned for the time being at
Washington, will be thankfully received, publish
ed in the Farmers Library, and forwarded to Eng
land in exchange for like Offices from the friends Of
peace and humanity.
: Us. SKINNER, Ed Farm. Library.
The Commissioners in Ireland directed to in
quire into the disease which has attacked the Poa-
to crop in the United Kingdom, consists of Pro-
fessors Kane, Playfair and Lindey. Their first
Report, directed merely towards the prevention of
improper methods ofsorng the crop, has been pub
lished by the Irish Government, and distributed by
means of the constabulary through the whole coun-
try. We reprint it, and shall continue 10 give our
readers the succeeding reports, as soon they
have been made public. As they will contain all
that is considered worth recording respecting this
fatal disease. it will be needless henceforward TO
occupy much space with other comments.
AS we said before, the issuing Of this Commits
sion is sufficient proof of the prevalence of the
Potato Murran TO a most formidable extent, and of
the accuracy oil the view we have always taken Of
It's Importance.
In Ireland the official inquiry is essentially aided
by the important evidence collected by various dill
igent inqurers, especially by the Royal Irish .qgri-
cultural improvement Society, most Jealous and
useful association and the officers of the Royal
Dublin Society. In England Rev. NJ. J. Berkeley
and Mr. Edward Solly occupied with minute |
investigation Of the subject for the Horticultural
Society, in the theological and chemical points of
view and in Scotland, the agricultural Chen,ist,v
Association have put forth circular inviting the
public to subscribe five hundred pounds q for the
expense of an Entomologico- Botanic Chemico
Practical examination of the matter
The following is the Report above alluded to;
BOARD ROOM, Royal Dublin Society,"
October a. 1916. {
My LORD: We the undersigned Commissioners
appointed by her Maesty's Government to report to
your Excellency on the state of disease in the Po-
tato crop, and on the of its prevention have
the honor to inform your Excellencv that we are
pursuing our inquiries with unremitting attention.
We are fully sensible of the important and diff
cult nature of the inquiry, and therefore are unwil-
ling TO offer, at the present moment, any final rec
concentrations as we are still receiving evidence,
ana awaiting the results of various experiments
now IN progress. But at the same time we ought |
to state TO ycur Excelency that we have reason to
hope that the progress of the disease may be retar
ded by the application of simple means, which we
trust may appear worthy of adoption, until we are
enabled TO offer further recommendations.
In the present communication we avoid entering
into any account Of the origin or nature of the dis
ease; but we would particularly direct attention to
the ascertained facts that moisture hastens its pro-
gress, and that 1t is capable of being communica-
ted TO healthy Potatoes when they are in contact
with such as are already tainted. knowledge of
these facts determined, they have been by expe-
riment, and agreeing with the scientific information
obtained as to the causes and nature Of the disease
lead us to propose the adoption of the following
plan for diminishing the evils arising from this de-
structive malady:
In the event of a continuance of'dry weather,
and in soils toleraby dry, we recommend that the
main in the land; but if wet weather intervene or
If the soil be naturally wet, we consider that they
should be removed from the ground without delay.
When the Potatoes are dug out of the ground,
we are decidedly of the opinion that they should
not be pitted in the usual way, the circumstan-
ces under which potatoes placed in ordinary
pits are precisely those which tend 10 hasten their
decay.
We recommend that Potatoes when dug should
be spread over the field, and not collected into
heaps and if the weather continue dry and free
from frost that they should be allowed TO lie upon
the field fora period of time not exceeding three
days.
ed in their power of resisting disease by the
proposed, should then be sorted, by carefully sep
aratng those which show any tendency to decay.
Those potatoes which appear to- be sound should
then be placed about two inches apart in layer,
and over each layer of Petatoes should be placed