Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-11-20
Fromthe New England Farmer
CAUSE OF, AND REMEDY FOR, THE PO-
n,

CAUSE OF, AND REMEDY FOR, THE Pc
TATOE ROT.
We have thought proper to copy from the Lon
don Gardeners Chronicle, OF Sept 18th, lS41, the
report of the examination Of Professor Charles
Norren, of Brussels, into the cause and remedy ioi
that dreadful scourge the poatoe rot we nave
done this because the high estimation IN which hi'
talents are held in Europe, as vegetable Pnyso'-
oglst places him among the first authorities on inc
subject; and because gentleman OF his sciehtlfc
character and attainmenls, would be very cautious
in sending forth to the "ofld any opinion ut all OH
such an important subject That had not Oeoh eX-
n,niucd with the most scrupuOus care and with the
LIGHT afforded by the improved state of science
and lastly. because the cause assigned, and reme-
dns prescribed by Prof. Morren, very nearly in
doed coincide with those sugG esed BY our cs-
teemed scientific friend, J. f. Teschemncher, Esq,
which were first published in the New England
Farmer. The following Is the extract:
81 learn by letters from several friends that the
disease which affects the potatoe crops in the
Channel lslonds, and in several parts Of England,
is universal in Belgium, and almost all through
France and as professor Moren, Of tho Unversi-
ty of Meige, has described the maady, and the
remedy to be immediately applied, have seized
the first moment of leisure to translate part Of let
ter which he has inserted in the Independence -
of Brussels, for the benefit Of those whom it may
concern.
"The real cause of the disease is miIdeio fungus,
which scientific men class under the head BotrytiS
but which farmers will easily distinguish, and will
name n spot, scorch, or burn Some will attribute
it to humidity; others, to dry winds, TO insects,
&C. Nevertheless, it is of consequence to know
the real cause of this phenomena, for the knowl-
edge OF it will put the farmer on the road to diun-
sh or destroy, If it is possible, the evil.
"Ihe professor has, Tor several days, followed
the progress Of the disease in several potatoe fields
and has come to the following resus:-
"The malady decidedly commences by the up
per part of the leaves in several instances he has
seen the flowers and the sced-vesses first attacked
A part of the green tissue loses its color and be-
co ues yellow; the spots soon after become grey,
and it is always on the under part Of the leaf, or
on the seed vessels that the next day or two DAYS
after the leaf has turned yellow that you perceive
the formation of irhde doWn. The microscope
showes that this down is formed by fungus which
fructlties between the numerous hairs garnlshng
the under parts of the potatoe leaf This fungus
is extremely tkin but 1t ructlties immensely, and
reproduces itself by millions. The Professor af-
ter having given minute detail Of the size, &c.
concludes this part Of his letter by saying: " Far
mers will tell me that this is Il very small body 10
cause such immense ravages: but j will answer
that the itch is not a ualady less to fear because
the dedrcuS which causes it, is microscopic object
1t Is after the leaves have turned yellow, and the
botrytis has made its appearance that the stem is
affected. Here and there tie epdernis turns TO
brown and black color and when YOU follow with
the use of microscopes, the infection Won soon er-
coive that it is by the skin that the stem is attack
ed. The morbid agent carries its action from the
skin to the epidermis, and though you do not per-
ceive fungus on this last part, yet it is not the less
struck with death. For those who have few no.
tons of vegetable physiology. these effects are ey
planned. The sap modified In living Juice. in veg
etabe blood forms itself in the leaf, and descends
through the skin in the stem and roots. There the
sap being sckly, deadly carries the poison from the
leaf to the stem, and Kills it, The fact is that as
soon as the black spots are seen on the stem. the
leaves dry and die, and struck with death by a