The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1849-03-10
Rust In vVheat-CulaiVatf0 of
POtatOeS-GraDe Vines,

| We have heen favored with the following let
ter for publication in The Tribune. 1t was
written by an intelligent practical Farmer OF
Western New-York to his lrend in tins CITY,
and will be found interesting to our readers gen
orally and pecur arly SO to friends engaged
in Agriculture and Horticulture:
PEORIA, Wyoming Co. N. Y.
Dec. 81. is49.
| My DEAR SIR: YOU recollect how much
"Poor Richard" was gratifed to hear his own
maxims quoted. Lately when telling some ore
my experience in Poto,o cultivation, and recon-
mendHg the cutting Of them and planting only
the butt end, not using what is called the seed
end, having only three or four eyes in a set and
and planting only one set in hill, my friend
remarked that he agreed with that-he had read
| 1t last year IN the newspapers. lfyou got that
published for me, believe | also mentioned
| something ofmy success in guarding against the
rot ! continue still in the same OPP nion, thai
| it is owing TO atmospheric influence, and 10 be
| counteracled as the rust in Wheat, by cutting
| tho Potatoes Immediately upon their being at
| tackled. This las been done and recommended
occasionally by some both in Britain and this
country; but 1t seems neither generally believed
| nor practiced. Is it because it is so plain rem
| edy, and people are so much in love with guack
| cures, that they want some more appeara nee Of
, mystery for the curing of an evil that seems so
| wonderful?
| In some un fortunate cases of rust here few
| years aga, people that cut their Wheat immedi-
ately seemed to lose very little, VIII lie those that
| left it to remain till the ordinary time Of rpen-
| ing saw it shrink and shrivel till they judged it
not worth harvesting, and when convenient it
was set On fire as it stood. So in the case Of the
| Potatoes, we have had here for years towards
| the time of rpening warm showers after which
| the leaves began TO spot then the vines 10 decay
~ fba f,,I,a t, tl,p M
discovery, but Of watching carefully for ntorma-
| ton mud laying open the conviction.
| Wren frequently mentioned after my sue
cess last year that had saved part Of my Pola-
toes by cutting off the vines soon as saw the
| rot begin, was asked by some what day Of the
month had done IN | had neither watched the
sun nor the moon in the case, but the Potatoes,
and of course my information was unsa tisacto-
nv to such as had paid for tho Yankee secret of
cutting Canada thstles on certain day i'll SUM
mer, though, by-the-by, even in this case it
seems posi- be to do much in subduing these this
Ties by waiting TILL they grow hollow hearted"
soon tier blossoming, and cutting them before
| good shower that the roots may be filled with
| moisture and rot
1t was about the end of August last year that
cut my Potatoes; but the rot began fortnight
| sooner this year. and upon the 10th OF August
| cut of all the vines of the most Of my punk"
growth, but, we thought, better small Potatoes
| than no Potatoes. They we're not digged till
the middle of October. Cutting seems to be bet
ter than pulling; it is easier; and when we came
| 70 dIg those that were cut, we were persuaded
| that the roots must have continued to grow alter
the operation. as we had good sized Potatoes.
Indeed similTr fact is generally regarded, as it
seems too much trouble to watch and apply the
remedy. Beside, some have had good luck"
this year, have had no rot and been at no pains
| The secret Of the good luck in many cases, is the
! early planting of interior sorts on light soils,
where they have ripened before the rot came.
we have great enjoyment ofa plentiful
yield Of the best sorts, and hope still to succeed
by care and attention, if the blight come no 500
ner than an average Of past years.
| Would wish 10 say word about the culti-
walton of tho Grape. see some writer's appear
in the mist when they treat of it in our Agricnl-
lural publications. 1t is easily raised from cut
tngs, lfthey are preserved TIL Spring and then
| stepped in water five or six days till the buds
begin to swell. Then plant them in well dgg-