The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1846-04-25

| AS 10 a severe and continuous druughr
my ewn experience points 10 that Of
1888. That season, had five sct,
patch in with potatoes, which did no
pay the trouble Of taking them out @
Re grouId. They were small, i'll shap
ID, bad tasted poisonous, spotted an,
md black bearled, and ro,led in The cell
lar. Potatoes that seasons old a. h gh as
81 25 10 81 so per bsrrel--not a bush
sl--not bushe Of good potatoes at mar.
ke,, except those imported. Then a.
10 dry hot weather, succeeded by wet,
cose. over spring like temperslure, the
season Of lS43 10 point | took more
than common pains ths, year 10 produce
SURPRISING yield, equal, at Least, 10 my
famous crop Of the preceding year
which was over 44O bushels to The acre
- field culture. My seed was in part
from those fine polsroes, and in par
from some very large, sound potatoes
imported from The State Of NJ exico. %
laking out the crop in October, the
whole was found 10 be very badly di.
seased. The weather, from the latter
part of June till the begi Of Sep,em
1er, was mainly hot, occasionally very
wet and dry. September sci in with warm
rain, thunder storms and gusts; the
moisture and closeness unprecedented;
fruit trees blossomed, as we'll as many
llowfring trees and shrubs. | recolleci
6ahlDg large co''eosr,.' 80
from The msgnoiss, some Of which 1
.en, to the editor Of the 'Pennsy ylvanis
Inquirer Ny polatos vines looked
healthy, when ell OF sudden 'hey chan
ged color, droopsd and died. ihak
f had tsken our the potatoes al the
iuncturs they would have proved COM
paraliuely good ;but they we're permitted
% re main quite a month after, when
they were found badly rotted, tsin'ed,
and almost worthless.
Now then, as 10 the epidemic. L.
lstl,I planted some four or five acres Of
potatoes, The seed of Uhich tO1 SpriHcj-
patty caLled .frOm tie diseased crop Of
.ls49 ! planted. also, at the same time
the same field other seed OF re:5
,ound potatoes brought from Moioe.
hey all did equally we'll, | could dis
cover 10 didersnce; The crop wes Q very
'air Que, and the quality unexceP'iona.
hle in every respect ! do not mean by
his TO encourage the planting efdiseased
or doubtful petatos0. II is safer to plant
sound and perfect onss; bat am strong
ia the op,nlon tina, there is n1 danger Of
, diseased OF tainted polaIde producing a.
diseased or tainted pota'oe. 1t may,
rom its want Of vitality, be very az.
productive, makes feeble shoots, the
S,ms as dacsyed potatoes from on ship
board after long voyage, the hea, and
moisture Of the vessels hold having
|. o send out en0Tmoul5 slloutS, lmparlns
thsir vjgor and producing rat Slch
potatoes, when planted, nevsr produc"
well as 10 size and quantity; bot | have
yet to lesrn that they ever produced q
diseased polsoe.
Much has been said Of potatoes be-
coming faeble nnG sichy from long and
constant plsnrings, jhere may be some.
thing ia this, time will not permit me
TO examine il now. | have however,nu
rsrous sorts OK seedlings produced tIom
The appes Of my very fine crop OF lS4s
| shall lake occasion TO present you
with few 10 send 10 some OF you
friends sbroad.
BY shjs you will see that can ofe'
10 remedy or preventive for the rot II D
that Iempers lhe wnd 10 the shorn lamb
can only control il, Should il sgaiu
y., US, we can only exercise our bss
judgement by taking out The potatoes
IrarIy--ss soon as they exhibit signs o,
Iecay - laying them 10 thin layers in
Llry, cool situations, or Otherwise, a.
circumstances may justify. Let the far.
mers go on and plant ia confidence. as
I,her best experience may teach trusting
for an abundant yield to ,hstProvdence
who seudeth the early and the latter
rain.
Very respectfully yoars, &c.
JV2MES GOWEN'
William, Peter, E.q.
T., ~ :- Al.!..,-,I, H~n.nI Dill