Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1847-10-30

The Potato Rot.


Mr.. GoopHUE-Sir, have noticed in the
Wisconsin Herald, some remarks upon the
potato disease, so prevalent this year in the
county of Grant. The cause of this strange
infection of the potato, has given rise to
many speculations upon the subject. How
near the true cause may have been arrived
at, | shall not attempt to point out; but give
my speculations for what they are worth,
with those that have already preceded me.
First, the disease, in my opinion, originates
in the zine and not in the tuber, or seed
planted, as has heretofore been the belief
of many, myself not excepted; and that it
was requisite TO renew the potato by OBJ
tanning seed from the potato ball. This
theory is unsupported by experience. |
have raised sound potatoes from seed pota-
toes that were so badly decayed by disease,
that it appeared doubtful if any vegetable
life was left in them; again | have planted
all disease or decay, and lost taco-ttirds Of
my crop by the rot. have also been cred
IDLY informed, that the disease has attacked
the potatoes of those that have commenced
raising potatoes from the seed obtained
from the potato ball; and by the by, in the
first and second generation from the ball.
have adopted some of the recommends
tons given to the public by agriculturalists,
such as applying lime, ashes, &c., to the
turber at planting time; and must say, all
to no purpose, at least, no good effect upon
the potato could he discovered, by way of
svaing it from disease. The cause of the
disease, | shall attempt to give. At the
time of the last ploughing and killing of
my potatoes, which was just about the
time the blossom began to show itself,
(near the middle of June,) | discovered a
small black bug upon the vines, whose bus
mess appeared to be to be that of eating the
outer fiber or texture of every leaf, upper
side, besides drilling countless number of
holes though the leaves. In fact, so per-
forated were the leaves, in many cases, that
the extremities of the tops appeared scarce
able to support the remaining foliage. The
leaves were riddled, through and through,
like seive. The result of this discovery,
has proved to me, that wherever the vines,
or rather the leaves, were most eaten, the
potatoes were most decayed; and those
vines that are not eaten, win be found free
from disease and the potatoes also; and |
think it may be affirmed, that potatoes that
produce the greatest amount of vine, or TO
liage, will be least liable to disease; for in
stance, the Rohan, Pink-eye, Merino, and
Irish grey. At all events, it has been found,
that when the above kinds have been
planted with the Meshanoc, they showed
less decay. The cause, | attribute to the
fact, that the more abundant foliage of these
varieties of potato, affords sufficient ali
ment for the bugs, and foliage enough be-
side, to carry on a tolerably healthy elabor-
alton of the sap and juices, necessary to
promote the proper and healthful growth of
the tubers in the Hill. The bug, in color, is
of bright black; in length, not over one six
teenth OF an inch, and in shape approaches
nearly the half globular form. 1t is so
nlmble, IN Its movements, that il is Justly
entitled to the cognomen of 'potato flea"
Thus, Judging of the effect upon the foli-
age of the potato by the name here given,
you may imagine how wretehed the poor
rines must feel, when attacked on every
side and edge, without the ability to catch
one d. of them, or get one glorious
scratch What think you, must become of
the eruptions thus engendered upon the
lungs of the potato! (For ! take it that the
vines or tops. are to them the breath Of e1-