The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-01-21
From the Tribune.
American Agricultural Agsocia-
ton Alpaca Sheep The Po-
tatO Disease Examined.

AC Ihc university, last evening, the above
named Society held its regular semi-rMonthly
meeting-llon. LUTHER BRADIsH in the
chair.
The minutes Of the last meeting were read
and approved, after which the Corresponding
Secretary made a report Of his proceedings
with regard to correspondence with kindred
societies, etc.
In relation to Alpaca Sheep, Col. Clark re-
ported from the Committee on that subject
Two thousand dollars have been added to the
funds now on hand for the introduction OF
that breed Of animals into the United States
The Colonel begged leave to call upon Mr.
Williamson for some remarks on this subject
Mr. williamson said the Alpaca is an animal
that endures a great deal Of hardship. The
diliicuiry most common IN its native regions is
that sufficient attention is not paid to its food.
Their habits are something like those Of The
Canadian horse-picking out what no other
animal will eat, and while there is snow, al
ways out-evcn if comfortable shelter were
provided. They can be brought into the U.
States at very small expense, even across
the Isthmus. An agent could be sent to
South America at small cost, and when there
he could charter vessels-whalers, for in
stance-for 5000 each to take the animals
transporting them to the States would be by
driving. The expense of taking the animals
from the mountains to the sea coast is p2 each.
The better port for shipment is Chagres, but
Conception is also very good. The noun
tain variety of this animal is decidedly the
best
Fice-C Chancellor McCoun said he wished
to bring to the notice of the Society subject
of great interest to this country and also to
Europe-the Potato Disease He would in
troduce a resolution in this connection but
wished first to make few remarks on the or
igin Of the disease, which first broke out in
1913, in Europe. In 1914 it made greater
progress than in the preceding year, and in
1915 it had assumed decidedly the appearance
Of an epidemic-its focus being, apparently,
Belgium, whence it seemed to have spread to
all parts Of Europe-as far North as Sweden
and NOrway-East to some of the German
States-South to Bordeaux in France-and
West to the British Islands. In the year
1915 it began 10 create some alarm, and
committee Of scientific gentlemen was APP
pointed to inquire into the cause Of the dis
ease. The first discovery was made by DR.
MolTen, who attributed the sickness to fun
gus III the tuber.
The Chancellor then went over the whole
ground, giving the opinions and experiments of
Il large class Of scientific men throughout the
cities OF Europe. At the close of 1915, the
researches Of these gentlemen were published.
Starch, as is well known, is the principle in
gredient i'll the potato tuber, and is contained
i'll little C!obulcs or granules found i'll the eel
lular tissue Of the tuber in connection with
albumen. The cellular tissue is composed of
gluten and some other substances An in
stance was mentioned in which, by excessive
moisture in the potato, a bursting Of this eel
lIlar tissue was caused, and thus the whole
Of the best part of the tuber was destroyed,
and the growth of fungi tollowed-so that the
potato was rendered worthless.
During the year 1916 Il gentleman inyesti-
gated this subject, who has had nothing to do
with any Of the former experiments, and he
has proved to his own satisfaction at least that
the true cause is an insect. The Chancellor
said he had just received from London a copy
of this gendeman's book on the subject. His
name is Alfred $mead, distinguished sur.
geon and the Chancellor thought that his
work would prove an Interesting one. 1t will
soon be republished in this city. The insect,
Mr. Smcad says is a species Of 1pAtS, and is
the primary cause of disease in the plant. 1t
attacks and sucks the lcnfgenerally commence
ing on the under side, and continue its opera
tons until it extracts the moisture from the
plant, which in due time dies down to the
ground, and of course the tuber perishes with
It.
The Chancellor said his purpose in intro
ducing this subject was to propose a resolu-
ton, the substance Of which was the sugges-
ton that a committee be appointed in behalf
Of the Association to ascertain if species Of
the Aphs or other insect is the cause Of the
disease in this country-and that if not able
to ascertain this reason, they should examine
personally and fully, as soon as practicable,
and report to the Association. The resolu-
ton was duly passed, and five gentlemen APP
pointed as the committce-Messrs McCoun,
Maxwell, Pcll, UnderhiIl and Stevens
Hugh Maxwell, Esq, made few remarks
on this topic, referring to the investigations OF
DR., Playtair Of England, and said he APPROX
ed Of the resolution previously offered One
fact he would wish to call attention to, Last
fall a neighbor of his stated to him that in
digging his potatoes he had found imbeded in
the stalks of all that were diseased, seyeralin
sects.
Chancellor McCoun replied that this cir
cumstancc is frequently observed. 1t is not
the cause Of decay, but a natural consequence
of decay Of q whole plant. gentleman
present stated that he had seen the cut worm
in perfectly healthy stalks. Mr. Pell follow
ed, saying that on his own farm he had OBJ
served number ofinsects on his potato stalks,
and had noted the same appearances in Dutch
ess county, Albany and Schenectady and
their vicinity. He asked the farmers what
manure they had used on land where he OBJ
served fine healthy potatos growing. They |
told him lime and on fields where this was
not used, the plants were covered with aspe-
cies of very full green insect, and inside the
stalks was the black insect On these insects |
lime has bad influence, approximation
when it is used, they never appear. In an
swer to an inquiry, Mr. P. said that cutting
off the blossoms of potatoes near the time Of
ripening has the effect of increasing the size