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


stalks to such degree, that the matters
prepared by the physiological action of
these parts are increased and applied to
the formation of tubers; while, at the
same time, the direct action of the suns
rays on the soil is prevented by the
thick foliage, and thus the drying up of
the soil and its injurious consequences
are avoided.
The checking of the transformation
in the leaf is equivalent to the Interrupt
ton of the natural change of the leaves
into calyces, coralla, stamen and pistils,
which is effected at the expense of the
nutrient matters collected in the plant
and these, when this modification of the
leaves is arrested, arc turned to account
in the formation of tubers.
Led by these views, | made, in 1916,
experiments on single potatoe plants,
carefully marked, by pinching off the
ends of the branches. They were so
readily distinguished, in their subsequent
growth, from the plants beside them, by
more numerous branches, larger and
darker foliage, that, in truth, no mark
ing was necessary.
The produce from these plants of tu-
bers was abundant, and the tubers were
perfectly healthy-while the plants next
them, Which had not been so treated gave
uniformly less produce, at the same
time the tubers were rough on the sur
face, and in many instances attacked
with the prevailing disease. This ex-
pertinent was incomplete, and it did
not give positive result, but it was yet
Encouraging for me.
In the middle of April, l947, an ex-
pertinent 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 l945. The
potatoes were planted in the usual way
by an experienced farm servant.
After wedding them in the end Of
May, | renewed my experiment by pinch
ing off the points Of the branches of eve
ry second row, and repeated this in the
end Of June. The result surpassed all
expectations. The stalks of the plants
not treated on my plan were long, stray
Cling, and sparngly furnished with
leaves, the leaves themselves small and
pale green.
In the next field, potatoes of the same
variety were planted on the same day,
and left TO nature. They appeared in
the first six weeks healthy, even strong,
but gradually acquired poor aspect as
the time Of Towering and fruit approach
ed, and finally exhibited precisely the
same appearance as the rows not treated
by pinching off the extremities in the
field, in which my experiments were
made.
The harvest began in the surrounding
fields in the middle of August, and was
very middlng. The tubers were through
out smaller than usual vary scabby, and
within these fields, to q small extent, at
tackled by the wet rot.
In the end of August, the difference
between the rows treated by me and
those not treated became so striking,
that it astonished all the work people in
the neighborhood, who were never tired
of inqulring the cause. The stalks of
the rows left to themselves were all now
partly dried, partly dead. On the con-
trary, the rows treated as above were
luxurlant and in full vigor, the plants
bushy, the foliage thick, the leaves large,
and dark green, so that most people sup
posed they had been later planted.
But the difference in the tubers was
also very decided. The tubers in the
plants in the rows treated on my plan
were not, indeed, larger, but vastly more
numerous, and they were neither scabby
nor affected with any disease whatever.
A few had pushed, (Which was to be
ascribed to late rain,) and were, appar-
emily, incomplctely developed, while scab
and wet rot attacked more and more the
tubers Of the other plants, which also fell
off on the slightest handling.
Although | am far from believing that
| am able to explain the nature of the
potatoe disease which has visited us of
late years, yet lfecl certain that have
discovered means of Strengthening the
potatoe plant TO such a degree as to en-
able it to resist the influences which de-
termine such disease.
Should any one be deferred from con-
tnuing the cultivation of potatoes, on
account of the manipulation here recon-
mended, which may be performed by
women and even by children,t would
remind him that the same field planted
with potatoes is capable of supplying
food to twice as many persons as when
employed to grow wheat
Prussia.