Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-09-24
THE POTATO RoT-A SUGGESTION.

On the first page of this paper will be found an
interesting article, taken from Sillimans Journal of
Science and Arts, the subject OF the Potato dis
ease, which has become so serious and extensive
both in this country and in Europe. No certain
remedy for it, it seems, has yet been discovered,
nor indeed is the true character of the disease it
self satisfactorily settled, although the scientific as
well as the practical in Europe, have been indus
tronsy engaged in its investigation.
The Potato is vegetable of comparatively mo-
dern introduction as an edible, and it is well known
that although it may be multiplied from the tuber,
nature has provided for its reproduction from the
seeds OF the ball which grow upon the top of the
Plant May it not be, then, that the disease which
is now becoming universal over the world, is but
the result Of common law which limits the dura
ton to which the Potato may be propagated or null
tplied from the Root? And may it not be. that
the reason why all Potatoes, every where, are not
now subject to the disease, is that portion of them
are of more recent reproduction9 We have
frequently seen accounts in the course Of our edito-
rial life, of Potatoes being reproduced from the
seed of the ball. in different parts of the country
and with an evident improvement in their quality.
The fact stated moreover, in the article from Sill
mans Journal, that the disease is not to be account
ed for by wet or drought, or any other visible out
ward cause, would go to show that it is owing to
something inherent in the Potato ITSELF
Our reflections have been turned into this chan
mel from seeing the following paragraph in the Bal
'imore American, which, although palpaby mis-
take as to the discovery" claimed is nevertheless
important as to the fact which it asserts that the
Potatoes so reproduced from the seed are found to
be entirely exempt from the Rot
IMPORTANT DIscovERY-Reprodl,lc of tbe
Potmo.-The Newark Advertiser saws that the
Rev. n. 5. Smith, of the city of New York, has
discovered q method of raising excellent potatoes
from the seeds of the ball of the plant About four
years ago he planted the seeds of an ordinary plant
and obtained potatoes about the size of pea
hese ne planted the next year, with the seeds
from their plants and both yielded potatoes Of ar,
increased size. Again, the third year, he planted
Inc second years potatoes and their Seeds and had
ihe pleasure of gathering potatoes large enough for
the table, OF the finest flavor and texture and en-
treh free from the rot, although planted along
side OF those having the disease. He finds that
the potato raised from the seeds, instead OF the
roots. is as hard and good in the spring as when
dug from the drill.
VS Once the above was written, we have met
with letter from correspondent of the Buffalo
Advertiser, which makes similar suggestion to
the one thrown out by above, as to the cause of
the Potato disease. The writer says-''My own
opinion is, that the Potato has been so long propa
gated by cutting, instead of Seed that it has gra-
dually deteriorated until it, has become literally
diseased, and that the remedy is to procure Potatoes
for planting which have been propagated recently
from the seed''