Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-03-22

ON THE CULTIVATION OF THE POTA-
TO; WITH OBSERVATIONS ON THE
MODERN POTATO DISEASE.
MEssRs EDITORs IF anything could be
done, to rescue Tbs indispensable article of food
from the rangss Of that infection, commonly
known as tisgkdsrn plague, or potato "rot p
an amount Of gp5a far beyond the ability of the
arthmetician to calculate in "California Cold"
would accrue to the whole family of man. But
how is this knowledge to be obtained? We
answer, by experiments by the single handed,
and also by united efforts of the cultivators of
the soil aided by every help, that can be brought
to bear on the subject, through the press. Let
vegetable physiology, chemistry, and every 9TH
er kindred science lend helping hand. Let the
learned, and the unlearned, "jointly and sav'
orally" make science and practice alike avail
able, to discover, il possible, the cause and to
devise remedy.
Various are the cOnectures, prevailing among
farmers, in regard 10 the potato disease, and va
rious have been the experiments resorted to, to
ascertain the cause of this sad calamity to our
race: and yet, after many years of united re-
search, and experimental efforts, no one has at
tanned the much desired discovery of the cause
of the malady, nor has any one in this wide
world, succeeded to any great extent, In the
mitigation of this almost lrreparable destruction
of truly invaluable esculent. Although we
have suffered, iuthe tss of this crop, more heov-
lily perhaps, in our own New England, compar-
atiyely, than any other section of our county
yet, our loss, Though very great,) is not to be
named in comparison, with many portions of tile
eastern hemisphere, Famine, disease and death,
have p arked the train of their plague, as it has
swept like blast of pestilentlal wind over whole
countries. The wretchedness and death of
millions of our fIIow men, have resulted from
the failure of thi single crop, and to other mill
ions now living, The potato disease" are words
of dread !--of apamg dread! And who can
say, when, all tIs human suffering, and loss of
food, shall hawai- end? Who, will not, for
humanity's sakedd what he can, humble though
he be, to trace lddisease, to its hidden cause
THAI no PfA'sS'P~S Ooon nude, in the nu-
merous experin ltal efforts of individuals, and
associations, wlnot be pretcnded-still, it is
generally admitd, that we are certain, as to but
very little, that Opertalns to this most singular
phenomenon int vegetable kingdom.
The diversity of soils, manures, and the ap-
plications, to thevarious combinations Of which
our earth is conposed--.the diversity of climates
and the differentnodeS of cultivation, are indeed,
difficulties of nc ordinary Importance. And if
we do not greatly misunderstood their impor-
lance, and therinfuence, OH the various crops
and more especially, in regard to the potato dis
ease, these matters, have failed too often, lin
making up results to receive that consideration,
to which agents of so much consequence are en-
titled. Surely, It is no easy matter for any man,
or even, for any body of men, with all the diff
culties, with which this whole subject is envel-
oped, to be entirely certain, that no element an
seen, and therefore, not taken into the account,
has had no agency, in the experiment instituted
CHARLES w. MACOMBER.
East Marshfeld, Feb. 23d, l849.