Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1851-09-17
Thoughts ON the Potato Rot.

Of Massachusetts, of a reward OF SlV,VuV
to the person who shall discover the cause
aud the cure of the potato rot, we have
had dtsooreries liz regard to it, as "plenty
as blackberries.'
Insects, at the present day, have to bear
the sin of the whole loss Of the potatoes,
and of course all the devices for killing
insects have been recommended, from
showering with tobacco water, up to the
whitcwashing of the stems and leaves.
We have paid considerable attention to
the subject, and do not believe there is
single insect more now found among the
potatoes than there was forty years ago,
long and long before the potato rot was
heard Of One states that there is little
black bug which skips about like flea,
and eats holes through the leaf. Another
finds worm in the stalk, which has eaten
channel up and down, and caused the
top to wilt Another finds blackish pur-
pie bug, three quarters of an inch long,
that devours the leaves and another finds
a striped worm, or caterpillar; and anoth-
er a small striped bug, that devours all
about him; and another finds lots of /" lady
hugs" which, if he look sharp, don't eat
the tops at all.
Naw ali this host of insect tribes were
familiar to Us years ago, when We used to
help cultivate the :. tater patch" before
and after school If there were no more
Formidable enemy than all these, we could
all of US lururtate once more on what the
paddy called "rodst meat witto,a bones"
good, healthy, mealy potatoes, call Of
the olden time"
We have been heretofore inclined to at
tribute the rot to atmospheric changes,
but now think there can be no doubt that
it is caused by attacks of minute tlng'ss,
or parasitic plant, SO minute as to be made
visible to- iae eye only bymeans Oft powerful
microscope. BY the microscope they can be
seen not only infesting the pores and cells
Of a. stock, but also the cells of the potato
Itself-growing and fourishing, and suck
ing its life's blood out Of it, and finally
leaving us nothing but blackened, de-
cayed, rotten shell. This plant or fungus,
is propagated by seeds, which, of course,
must be so small as to be much more diff
cult to be seen, by even the microscope,
than the plant itself, and which float, like
a gas or vapor, in the atmosphere, set
ting on the potato, sinking into the pores
Of the plant, terminating siEl and GiEQwgS, ,ie ip
potato itself does on the earth.
Naturalists, WHO have examined this by
microscopes, have given it the name Of
Botrytis Lttstaas, and it is allied to the
same fungus that causes rust and midew
in wheat. Many are unwilling to believe
these things, because they have never seen
it. If they would 60 t. the expense o.
furnishing themselves with glasses of suf-
ticient magnifying power, they could see
them.
These fungi act on the same principe
that the moss, and Echens, and "tood
s,ools" act on trees. These last are large
enough to be seen, and we have all seen
them, and can every day see them, covering
the bark of living trees, and the shingles
on old houses, and either bringing on or
fastening the decay of the objects on which
they fasten. They start from seeds as
much as any other plants do The invisi-
bic fungi operate in the same manner, not
withstanding they are so minute that we
have to arm our eyes with microscopes to
discover them.
The principal question is, how to get rid
Of them! If the peculiar fungus which
infests the potato could live upon nothing
else, it might, possibly, be starved out, by
ceasin. the culture of the potato entirely
a few years. BIT. we do not yet know
enough of the habits and the laws by which
the lie, growth, &c, Of the enemy, arc
regulated. We do not know whether it
can live and flourish, aud perPetuate itself
on any other plant, or not. We do not
know whether the seed. or "sporules,' as
they are called, can be destroyed in their
eermipa;ing powers by suIphurous acid
gas, chlorine gas, OF by any other subtle
agent in the power Of man to apply. We
do not know when they are present, nor
when they are absent We do not know
whether their life or terminating powers
are long retained, or soon lost by age;
and until We do know more of our enemy,
we can do but little to combat it with
any hope Of success. In this view of the
ease. we think it would have been wiser for
the State Of Massachusetts, TO have paid
expert naturaiists TO spend their time IN
studying and investigating the habits and
laws of life which govern this species Of
parasitic plant, and publish the result Of
L. Il