The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1847-05-25

l n0SSeSS all tub cccc1lidit piOPsttiCS, oi'>-
generally most of the incidental properties
4 of the Progenitor.
Bird. There is in the procreation OF
plants a tendency both TO improvement
and to deterioration.
4th. The beiter the condition OF 'he'
plant at the time of procreaiion, the BET
ter will be the condition. OF the progeny.
5th. Although great changes may be
produced ia plants. yet these changes re-
quire time and frequently among repro
ductons.
9Th. The circumstances of soil, eli
mate, cultivation, &C., will do much to
vary the apparent loss of vitality from age
in plants.
9TH. Plants that have lost their vitality
are more subject to the attacks of para
sites than plants in a vigorous state
! Plants have their peculiar parasites but
/ they. are not always confined in their dep
relations to the plants in which they ORR
ginate.
9Th. The production OF abundant bios
SONS, few of which are succeeded by
mature fruit, is an indication of loss OF
vitality, and generally on account OF OLD
age. !,
These propositions are too simple, and
obvious to every careful observer, TO adj
nit any doubt. 1t would indeed. seem
TO be retrogade movement in science to
attempt to prove them, yet if granted,
they are sufficient for my purpose; they
/ will explain all the phenomena that have
been observed and reported in relation to
the potato rot.
The plant is said to be attacked by a.
phides; this is true, but iii explained by
the 9TH proposition above. Plants that
have lost their vitality are more subject
to the attacks of parasites than plants in
full vigor. Fungi have been found in
great abundance upon the diseased plants.
/ This is explained in the same way, but 1t
is sad-the attacks Of these same. fungi are
not confined TO the potato, and hence il is
inferred that they do not originate in a
disease peculiar to this plant. Parasites
often prey upon plants in which they ne
yer originate.
i It's said again, that crops, in many in
stances were less injured by the rot in
1876, than crops upon the same ground
were in lS45; although the seed for the
crop of 1916 was taken from the crop oi
lS45. This is explained by the 9th pro-
position, which also accounts for the DIFF
/ ferentdecrees of disease in different soils
: and with different manures. In shor
! there is no well authenticated fact in rela-
: ton to the disease that may not be salts.
e factorily explained by supposing the
o cause to be too long continued propaga
e ton from the root, without renewing from
e the seed.
e Although have already said more than
$ / al first intended TO say, vet cannot dis
e miss the subject without bestowing hap
0 py notice upon some editorial remarks IL
s the CuItivator.
: | regret that person who stands 81
1t high, as does the editor Of this valuable
l. periodical, allows himself TO take so su
h perlicial view Of this important subject
v In an article in the January No., p. 81
il he says-''If ii were true that the potat
disease were wholly constitutional, as ou
n correspondent supposes, the vegetatio
Y would be equally effected in all location:
N which is not the case. This is a strang
inference indeedi Hemight as well say,
s. man is affected with the scrofula, or an
IS other constitutional disease, it is Of n
in consequence what regimen he adopt, h
in will be just as likely to die under on
a course Of treatment as another. Agar
he says-'If it can be proved that varit
or ties Of fruit degenerate by being propag;
/ ted by grating or budding, we should re
ID gard it as evidence that the potato migI
y be effected in the way Indicated" Ii
ie must be a young man, or have spent hi
ar days among seedlings, not to have had OF
ly portunity Of knowing by his own obse
III yation, that although the quality of fruit
g. not deteriorated, but rather improved b
op grating; yet the vitality of the graft cal
not be pro racied much beyond the nat
he raj age of the original stock. The cho
er, cest fruits of former times have all passt
IN away, notwithstanding the efforts TO co
ng tinue them by graftlng, and have bet
III succeeded by new varieties, obtained fro
in seedlings, many Of which equal or su
se pass their predecessors. This is ia
ry so well established and so important, tn
it ought to be known to all interested
the cultivation of trees, and other plant
ed and especially to those, who, from the
ia, position, are to give direction to the OPT
'ti- ions and practice Of others.
re- Again he seems to infer from his ov
u.s. experience that the disease in the pota
re- cannot be cradicated by planting the seed
he He says-sOf the six or seven kin
icy produced from seed, nearly all were e,
lad den'ly effected (afIected) by the pota
eed disease" Yet he admits that-"One
po- two kinds seemed to have more naiul
: Of stamina than the others, and continued
GO gorous till the close Of the season.