Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1845-10-11
Potato Disease.

Potato Disease.
The disease OF the potatoes is, however, not
on1y the consequence of the bad weather we have
had all over Europe, Spain and Italy not ex-
cepted but the natural progress of decay to
acted by jndicious means. One of the best Ger.
mar Bvtanists observed the disease gradually in
creasing for the las. ten years, and proponnded
as enc Of tse best means Of arresting its progress
which he tried successfully--to raise then, eve
~ three years from the seed believing that
the usual way of planting caused the vegetable to
degenerate in that period. The President of the
Agricultural Society of the Prussian Province Of
the Rhine, published, however few days ago,
ms own observations, which, as they are short
and to the point, | venture here TO repeat. Ac.
cordng to his observation, the disease is Of a
two fold kind one which Injuries the crop but
does not spoil it, and the other which renders the
vegetation unfit for nutriment. The former
is in which the leaves above ground wiiher and
fall; this seldom materially Injuries the potato
especially if the green above ground is immedi
a'ely cut down; and the latter takes place when
the stem above ground becomes damp and putrid
in which case the potato is always more or less
affected with the same symptoms and no longer
fit for nou,shment. Causes Of the disease are
the manner OF planting them an unfit time at
which they planted, and the little care which
is taken in preserving vegetable which posses
ses such abundant powers Of reproducing and
multiplying itself Thus the fall potatoes, in
str of hai y,1a ab fbav IN ha -
May, are only put into the ground in June or Ju.
ly The vegetable when gathered in the fall is
then scarcely ripe, or being too young and moist,
becomes easily heated, and in that state unfit TO
he used as seed. 1t is nevertheless from such 20.
'a'ocs, in state too in which they already began
10 sprout, that the new crops are raised the bet.
ter ones being usually brought TO market and
sold. II the potatoes used for planting be care.
fully raised in proper soil, and properly pre-
served until used for planting there is no reason
10 apprehend diseased crop, or a crop deficient
in quantity. For this purpose, he recommends
the following process fer raising planting 20.
totecs1
Take field with light tsome what sandy)
soil. plough it well but do not manure it, or man.
ure it very little; plant your seed, or your pota
toes (Which must be the driest You can obtain
aud having as yet spouts,) latest on the 10th
of May, ard take care not TO plant them too near
each other. Let the vegetable remain in the
ground till September, that is till the green par,
above the ground is entirely withered and gone,
and when you at last have gathered them dig
ditch in the earth about two and half feet wide
and two feet deep, in which they will keep better
than in any place above ground The ditch must,
OF course be covered. Straw and earth are the
best and nnestconvenieut Substances for this pur.
pose. These potatoes, when used the folio wing
spring for planting, will materially improve the
crop, especially if but the stoutest are employed
which ought never to be cut in more than two at
the utmost three parts, tao o. three hours at fur.
MeH before being placed ia the SOIL
A learned professor in Munich has some
time since, with the and OF microscopes discove.
reda peculiar species of insect in every rotteu
potato, bat he has forgotten to inform US wheth
er the insect is the or the consequence ol
The disease, that the discovery thus far is of nc
vaaSe IN practice, Practiced economists and far
mers have assured me that raising potatoes every
three or four years from the seed wzs always
sufficient TO keep them healthy, unless when, a.
was the case this year the season did not permi,
their being planted at a proper tiene.-Brusseh
cor. Phila. Ledger.