The northern tribune. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1847-1855, 1848-04-18
VOL. H. NO. I4a.


the potato plant required more care than is
usually devoted to it. Hitherto the whole
cultivation consisted in clearing off weeds, and
hoeing up the earth round the stems. Both
they are not alone sufcient-for the plant is
cultivated, not on account of its fruit, but for
the sake of its tubers, and the treatment should
be modified accordingly.
The chief points to be attended to, with a
view to the attainment of the object, namely,
the increase of tubers, are
l. To increase the power in the roots, and
2. To check the transformation which oc-
ours in the leaf
We obtain both ends simultaneously, if, in
the 9Th, 9th, and 9TH week after setting the tu-
bers, and in the 4th and 9Th week after plant
ing out germs furnished with roots, or at a
time when the plants reach the height of six
to nine inches above the soil, we pinch off the
extreme points of the branches or twigs to tho
extent of half an inch downwards,* and re-
peat this on every branch or twig in the 10th
and lth week, no matter at what time of day.
The consequence of this check to the devel-
opment of the stem and branches, is stimu-
lus 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, which not only favors the power
of the root, but also strengthens the leaves and
stalks to such degree, that the matters pre-
pared by the physiological action of these
parts are increased and applied to the forma-
ton Of tubcrs WHILE at the same time, the
direct action of the suns rays ON the soil is
prevented by the thick foliage, aud thus the
drying up of the soil and its injurious conse-
quences are avoided.
The checking of the transformation in the
leaf is equivalent to the interruption of the
natural change of the leaves into calyses, CO.
ralla, stamens and pistils which is effected at
the expense of the nutrient matters collected
i'll the plant; and these, when this modifica-
ton of the leaves is arrested, are turned to ac-
count in the formation of tubers
Led by these views, made, in 1916, expo
riments on single potato plants, carefully
marked by pinching off the ends of the branch
es. They were so readily distins uished, in
their subsequent growth, from the plants be-
side them, by more numerous branches, larger
an darker foliage, that, in truth, no marking
was necessary.
The produce from these plants of tubers was
abundant, and the tubers were perfectly
healthy-whiie .he plants next them, which
had not been so treated, gave uniformly less
produce at the same time the tubers were
rough on the surface, and in many instances
attacked with the prevailing disease. This
experiment was incomplete, and did not give
positive result, but it was yet encouraging
for me-
In the middle of April, lS47, an experiment
was made on low-lying field with the round
white potatoes, generally cultivated here,-a
variety which had not suffered much from the
disease which first appeared here in ls45.-
The potatoes were planted in the usual way by
an experienced farm servant.
After wedding them in the end of May, L
renewed my experiment by pinching off the
points of the branches of every second row,
and repeated this in the end of June. The
res lt surpassed all expectations. The stalks
of the plants not treated OH my plan were
long, struggling, and sparingly furnished with
leaves, the leaves themselves small and pale
green.
In the next field, potatoes of the same va
riety were planted on the same day, and left
to nature. They appeared i'll the first six
weeks healthy, even strong, but gradually &C
quired poor aspect as the time of Towering