Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-05-25

am very respectfully and truly yours,
EBEN N. HORSFORD.
]. II. BUCKINGHAM.
METHOD PROPOSED BY DIR. KLoTscH FOR
THE PROTECTION OF THE PoTAToE
AGAINST PLANT DISEASE.
The potatoe, which is an annual plant,
represents, in the tubers developed from
the stem, the perennial part of plant
for while the duration of its develop
ment is analogous to that of ANIMALS, its
sections coincide exactly with those of
dicotyledonous shrubs and trees.
The potatoe plant differs from all
those plants which are cultivated for e.
economical purposes in Europe, and can
only be compared to those orchideous
plants which yield salep, and which are
not cultivated among us.
The tubers, both of the potatoe and
of the salep plants, are numerous, and
agree in this, that in the cells of the tu-
bcrs, grains of starch, with more or less
azotized mucilage, are collected, while
the cell walls possess the remarkable
property of swelling up into jelly, and
thus becoming easily digestible when
boiled with water.
But while the tubers of salep contain
only one bud or germ, the potatoe usu-
ally develops several, often many germs.
The potatoe plant, like all ANIMALS, ex-
erts IFS chief efforts in development, of
flowers and fruit. Like all ANIMALS too,
it has the power of shortening this peri
cd OF development, when the power of
the roots is limited as also of length
ening it, when the extent and power of
the roots are increased.
We observe in nature, that plants
with feebly developed roots often have a
weak, sickly aspect but yet come TO ma
turty in flower and fruit sooner than
stronger individuals, well furnished with
roots.
In perennial plants we observe a Sec
ond effort, which is directed towards
preparing and storing the nutritious mat
ter, for the consumption of the plant
The preparation of this nutriment is eff.
fected by the physiological action of the
leaves under the influence of the roots.
The stronger and larger the former are,
the more is this preparation of food de-
layed.
The nutritious matters are stored in
the coiored stratum of the bark in shrubs
and trees, and in the tubers in the pota-
toe and salep plants. Not only, howev-
er, the nutriment matters, but also the
cells owe their origin to the physioloec-
al action Of the leaves.
On considering these things, it follows
that the potatoe plant required more
care than is usually devoted TO it. Hith-
erto the whole cultivation consisted in
cleaning off weeds, and hoeing round
the stems. Both of these are indeed
necessary, but they are not sufficient
for the plant is cultivated, not on &C.
count OF its fruit, but for the sake of it
tubers, and the treatment should be
modified accordingly.
The chief points to be attended TO
with view to the attainment of the OBJ
ject, namely, the increase of tubers,
are
l. 10 increase the power in the roots,
and
2. To check the transformation which
occurs in the leaf. 49,.
We obtain both ends simultaneously
If, in the 5th, 9th, and 7th week after
setting the tubers, and in the 18th and 5th
after planting out germs furnished with
roots, or at time when the plants reach
the hight of six or nine inches above the
soil, we pinch off the extreme points OF
the branches or twigs to the extent of
nall an inch downwards,* and repeat
this on every branch or twig in the 10th
and 18th week, no matter at what time
Of day.
The consequence of this check to the
Development of the stem and branche S.
is stimulous TO the nutrient matters in
the plant in the direction of the increase.
both of roots and of the multiplication of
the branches of the stem above ground
Any wOudbO bitterly disappointed who on tho pin