The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1846-04-07
AGRICULTURAL.
For the GALAXY.
EARLY PLANTING A PREVENTIVE
OF THE POTATO ROT.


Ma. EDITOR My attention was frs,
drawn to the truth of the above, BY the fol.
lowing circumstance. The fore part OF the
second week in May last. planted with the
leopard potato, acre of black muck ground
About one-half of it moist springy land; a.
bout four weeks from that time a part of the
adjoining field belonging TO a brother in
law) was planted with the same kind Of po-
tato; the soil was the same. The growth
of the last piece was rapid, and bid fair TO far
out-stIip the fist. The two fields were har-
vested about the same time, quite late, and
the result was, The first field was fair Weld,
| peck or so Of rotten, and the balance as
good potatoes as l ever saw from such soil.
The second piece were badly rotted when
dug. SO much SO that they scented the house
and had to be removed, that is, the infected
ones. The others were spread thnly on the
cellar bottom, which very much arrested the
rot.
could discover no cause for the differ
ence but the time of planting. About this
time my business led me to call on many far
mers Of this and adjoining towns, and as
passed among them, made it point to en-
quire as TO the manner and time Of planting.
the soil, and the result, and found almost
without exception. that early planting. on a
warm soil, calculated TO forward vegetation,
gave fair yield as to quantity and OF good
quality, free from rot. The only exception
| now recollect, was piece planted with the
rohan, which is slow in coming forward
Gu the other hand, those planted late, alrho'
on good soil, we're as invariably more or less
affected with the disease. The worst saw
was in Panton. They were planted the 4th
Of July. l saw them a few days after they
were dug, and such mass Of rotteness
never saw before. do not pretend to de
eide what the cause of the rot is, but infer
from the above thai it may be one of the two
following. perhaps both combined: The
warmth OF the ground, and heat of the atmos-
phere, induces in the late paintings quick
vegetation and rapid growth. rendering the
stalk and leaf very tender. The growth OF
the root or Paioto itself is equally rapid, and
therefore as is well known both in vegetable
and animal life, more susceptible of disease
and decay than those of slower growth. which
the early planting would give. Again, it may
be produced by che deposriug of the larer OF
OF some insect, under the bark of the stalk.
The sap vessels carrying the poison thus in
troduced, TO every part Of the plant. The
whitening OF the leaf and stalk would favor
this idea. II this last be true then, probably,
like the wheat insect, there is but few days
ih which they are in season, and the early
plants out ofthe way by the more rnatured
state of the bark and woody parts of the stalk.
and The late plant by its luxuriant growth
and consequent tenderness. and its immature
state. renders it peculiarly fitted for the attack
of the insects.
The cultivation ofihis root is of such i'm
portance to the human family that it has
drawn the attention of scientific men of both
Europe and America TO ascertain the cause
Of this disease, and suggest a remedy. and it
is worthy of such attention. Brother farm
ers. in the experimental part we can perhaps
aid as much as they. And if not presuming
too much, | would suggest the proprety OF
the managers Of The Agricultural Society APP
pointing committee TO receive written state
ments Of experiments that may be made in
the different towns through tho County, and
report to the next annual meeting. | believe
that there are many farmers in every town
that would be ready to make experiments.
and report the result whether favorable or
not, if the community would be benefited.
J. w. STRONG.
Addison, March Sd, 1876.
p. S. / intended the above should have
reached you before the meeting of the mana
gers. but missing the mail we have to wait a
week before another opportunity. And I'M
less in some other way my proposition falls
10 the ground. J. w. S.