Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1852-12-22
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THE POTATO DISEASE.

soning; and the more so when we consider how
very differently the seeds of all other plants are
treated. They are carefully ripened, dried, and
kept in places free from damp, at least such
damp as would produce termination. 1t only
requires that we should imagine what the effect
would be Of treating peas, beans, or other veget-
able seed as we constantly do potatoes, in order
to understand the reasonableness of the remarks
made by Mr.. Cuthill. 1t is plain to us that the
first thing to be done to improve the quality of
the plant and to eradicate the disease, is to Sc
lect the potatoes when first removed from the
earth which are intended for seed, to have them
well dried before storing, and then to keep them
in dry place, exposed to the air, so as to pre-
vent termination. We have much pleasure in
giving greater publicity to such useful sugges-
tons: Chrstian Advocate and Journal.
Sir,-From time to time, since 1845, you have
granted me the great favor of publishing notices
of mine on this subject in your columns, me-
dium through which they are conveyed to all
parts of the world. Ever since the outbreak of
this calamity my mind has been occupied in en-
deavors to counteract it, for felt certain that
there was remedy to be found somewhere, and
that if we failed in discovering this, it was only
because we are ignorant of the laws regulating
the growth of the plant, and of the injurious in
fuences which interfered with the regular oper-
ations of these; and so it has been that most
of those who have entered into the question,
chiefly devoting themselves to speculation, have
dashed about here and there like rudderless
ship, and wandered far and wide from the right
path.
In the Times of July 90, l847, / stated my
belief that the potato disease resulted from a
ong-coptinued ill-treatment of the tubers, and
from the too great richness of the soil in which
they are grown. Where the soil is rich the dis
ease is most virulent, where the soil is poor the
disease has less influence; the potato is more
houry and better favored. These statements
were true then, and | confirm them now. The
health Of the potato depends on the wintering
of the tuber If taken care of in the winter it
will take care of itself in the summer At dig
ging-up time all potatoes intended for seed
should be left upon the ground until well green
ed by the sun and air, then laid in a cold, dry,
and airy place, if possible, where they can be
protected from frost. How, it may be asked,
does this prevent the disease? In this way
Every person must know that the slowest grow
ing tree forms the hardest wood and this is just
the case with the potato wintered on my plan.
When the tubers are placed as above directed
they produce their shoots slowly and gradually,
the stem becomes woody, with fine close fibres'
so that the texture is strong and wiry; when
once this condition is produced it is never alter
ed, and it extends itself to the very summit of
the haulm. This simple fact explains why au-
tumn- planted potatoes have been freest from
the disease the development Of the shoots be-
ing slow, they acquire that woody texture which
it is essential for the stem to have to defend it
from the influence of the disease
Contrast the above principles with common
practice. The tubers are put away in large
heaps, covered thickly with straw and mould,
sweated, and by the spring matted together with
the shoots which have grown out of them.-
When planting time comes, all this growth is
pulled off, the tubers are cut to pieces and linn
ed over to heal up the wounds. They are plant
ed upon, or under, rotten dung or mud; what
life is left shows itself in the developement of a
soft water shoot just like balsam, liable to ev-
cry disease. Such plants may be compared to
a confirmed drunkard, whose organs are in the
last stage of destruction should any external
influence act upon them so as to produce active
disease, all is lost: there are no stamina to fall
back upon Thus there is no hope for such mis-.
managed potatoes when the weather is unfavor.
able for if few dull hot days are followed by
bright sun, the sap ferments, becomes putrid
mildew forms, the diseased sap descends gradu
ally into the tubers, when those which are young
est, into which the flow is most rapid, suffer
most, while those which are nearly ripe suffer
less or not at all.
The whole secret is in the wintering, ant
planting the tubers in the earth with all thu