The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1852-06-08
Thoughts on the Potatoe Rot.

Since the offer made by the Legislature, OF
Massachusetts,, of a reward of ten thousand to
the person who shall discover tho cause and
cure of the potatoe rot, we have had discover
les in regard TO it, as plentY as blackherries.
Insects, ut the present day, haveto bear the
sin ofthe whole loss of the potatoes and Of
course all the devices for killing insects have
been recommended, from showering with to-
bacco water up to The whitewashing the stems
and the leaves. DO sa hGHd sr'
We have paid considerable attention to the
subject and do not believe there is a single in
sect more now found among the potatoes than
there was forty years ago, long and long be-
fore the potatoe rot was heard of One states
that there is little black bug that skps about
like flea, and cats holes through the leaf. 4.
Another finds worm in the stock, which
has eaten a channel up and down, and caused
the top 10 wilt. Another finds a blackish pur-
pie bug. three quarters of an inch long that
devours the leaves; and another finds a strip
| ped worm, or caterpillar, and another finds
small stripped bug that devours all about him /:
and another finds lots of lady bugs, which, II
he looks sharp. don't eat the tops at all. 1850
Now all this host Of insect tribes were famil-
Jar to us years ago when we used to help cnl-
tvate the tater patch,' before and after school,
Ifthere was no more formidable enemy than
on what the paddy called roast meat without
bones-good, healthy, mcal!y potatoes, all of
the olden time. ~ @ ta 80
We have been heretofore inclined to attrb-
ute the rot to atmospheric changes, but now
thnk there can be no doubt that il is caused
| by the attack of minute fungus, or parasitic
! plant, so minute rs to be made visible to the
! eye only by means of powerful microscope.
By the microscope they can be seen not only
| infestng the pores and cells of the potatoe it.
| self-growing and fourishing and sucking its
| lifes blood ost of it, and finally leaving rs
nothing but backened, decayed. rotten shell.
This plant or fungus, Is propagated by seeds,
which, of curse, must be small as to be
much more difficult to be seen by even the
microscope, than the plant ITSELF and which
float like a gas or vapor, in the atmosphere,
! settling on The paiatoe, sinking into the pores
OF the plant, terminating, and growing in and
| upon it, in the same manner Us the poiatoe it.
self does on the earth. a3ssog3m t1
Na'uralists, who have examined this by mi
| crocopes, have given II the name of Botyrus
! Infestuous and ii is ullicd to the same fungus
| that causes rust and mildew in wheat. Many
are Unwilling to believe these things, because
! they have never seen it. If they would go to
the expense Of furnishing themselves with
glasses Of sufficient magnifying power they
could see them.
These fungi act on the same principle that
the mops, md llchens, and toad stools act OH
trees. These last are large enough to be seen
and we have all seen them, covering the bark
of living trees. and the shingles on old houses
and either bringing on or Fastening the decay
of the object OH which they fastcn. TAoy
| start from seeds as much as any other plants
do. The invisible fungi operate in the same
manner, Notwithstanding they are so minute
| that we have 20 arm our eyes with micro
scopes to discover them. IN -, y
The principle question is, how to get rid. OF
them:. 1.-THE peculiar fungus which infesis
tho potatoe could live upon nothing eise,., it
might possibly be starved out, by ceasing The
culture of the potaioc entirely few years
But we no, vet know enough of the habits
and laws by which the life, growth, &C., Of the
enemy are regulated. We do not know whelh-
er tho seed or sporoles, as they arc called, can
be destroyed in their terminating powers by
sulphuric acid gas, chlorine gas, or any other
subtitle agent in the power of man 10 apply
We do not know when they are present nor
when they are absent. We do not know
whether they lfco or germitating powers are
long retained. or SON lost BY age and until we
do moi know mere Of our enemy we can do 5ui
little to combat it with any hope Of success
In this view ef the case we think 1t would have
been wiser for the Stale of Massachusetts q
have paid expert naturalist to spend their time
in studying end investigation. In this way .
clue TO the means Of defence would perbap.
! have been discovered an| ei'Nl iA ~.
q Until this is done, al ofour experiments are
mere haphazard efforts-movement as il were
! in tho dark against an enemy, unseen, known
A 10 be present. Il Maine Farmer. S.,.,f. \.
ln"fIUi"vyi ~ "a ssi
idi The Lancaster Gazette says II Daniel Web
i s<n- dalivara ifha sddreea NJ xha 0b;o qkak<