The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-04-25
Agricultural.
For the Caledonian.
The Potato Disease.


cradle written upon the disease that has at
fcctcd our potato crop of late, but ] have
seen nothing, as yet, that has satisfied my
mind. The many theories advanced, to-
gether with the remedies, have in most in
stances filled when put TO test /, therefore,
having good opportunities, last autumn mp
piled myselfto search for the cause, believ-
ing ifthat could be discovered, the remedy
would be apparent
In my research made the following OBJ
scrvOtons, which submit to your consider
ation, and if you deem them worthy you may
publish them.
LIST. The disease Of the tops commenced
al the edge of the largest leaves and not on
The stalk MS the common or old fashioned rust,
and the disease caused a perfect death, or
modification of that part TINT was affected.
First the leaf was observed to turn yellow
ish hue, next of q brownish yellow, then
black,when the death ofthe part was effected.
This black or dead part was surrounded by
distinct rings. The first, or that nearest to
the mortified part was of yellowish brown,
the second of grecnish yellow. The dis
case followed from the edge down the leaf,
always affecting the thinest part of the leaf
first or that part that was supplied with the
least moisture or circulation, until it arrived
at the stalk, when it affected that in the same
manner, and following down the stalk until il
affected the death of the whole vine. next
dug into the hill aud found the earth dry,
and where the tops were but slightly affected
the roots or potatoes were Injured but little,
but found the potatoes affected some in
those hills where the tops were yet green or
but slightly yelowish. So came TO the con-
cluson that the root became affected FIRST
The potato was not Injured in the seed end
or that part most remote from the nourishing
root, ond taking the potatoe | commenced
cutting off slices he ginning with the affected
part first,-and found MS approached the
butt end or that part where the nourishing
root entered, the disease diminished. IN the
field that was examining there were two
or three large stones, observed that around
these the potato tops We're not injured ut all.
Iproceedcd to dig into the hills aud found
that the ground was moist and the potatoes
sound.
These observations suggested 10 me that
the cause of the diseasc must he the dry
weather, or the want of moisture in tho
ground, about the time when the hulbous
part ofthe root was forming, a time when
orr potato crop needs the most moisture in
the ground in order to do wel:--grd that
the discase itsclfis dry Cangrenc or mortf-
cation. / then began my inquiries among the
farmers and found that those pieces which
had received the most manure were the most
injured, and those where the seed ends were
planted only, or the potatoes cut before plant
ing and whore tic soil contained large
quantity ofclay or marl and where it Yyas IL
able TO become baked by the dry weather,
were all badly injured. Those pieces plant-
ed on stony or sandy soil, or on new land
where it was shaded were but little affected.
Some peices planted near the lake on sandy
soil, where they received moisture from the
lake fogs were but slightly injured. Much
more can be said in proof of this position, but
Twill leave the subject, lest he too lengthy,
hoping every one will make Investigations
for himselfnrd ifhe can find any thing that
will either prove or disprQvo this position I
hope he will publish ii TO the world.
The remedy will he TO plant olr potatoes
on soil that will he the least liable to suffer
from the drouth, and use that kind of manure
ifany, that will require the least moisture to
decompose il. flour seasons are free from
the drouth or should not happen about
the time that the potato is forming in the hill
believe that we shall not have any more rot
ten potatoes than formerly, Late planting
that those late planted last year were the least
injured. LEWIS MORRILL,, ". ID.