The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1853-08-18
Qritulturnl.
Prcysniion C the PetatO Ret.


Bo!lman, a Russian Councillor of State
which appears to be worthy of the notice
of agricdItarists Scientific discoveries
receive greatcncouragcment from the Rus
sian government, notwithstanding the i'll
favor with which that power IS supposed
70 regard political novelties, Mr.. Boil
man, under the patronage of the Gar an
nounccs the discovery of a remedy for the
potato rot, and who knows bot Russia
may accomplish two great things this year
hy scizing her Turkey and saving her po-
tatocs at the same time? Mr Boilman
asserts from actual experience that aSor-
qzeh1y drjod potatoes will always produce
crop free from disease. This discovery
he made by accident, but confirmed it by
repeated subsequent trials. He had con-
trivcd a potato-sctter, which had the bad
quality Of destroying any sprouts that
might be on the sets, and even Of tearing
away the rind. To harden the potatoes
so as to protect them against this accident,
he resolved to dry them. In the spring
Of 1850, he placed lot in very hot
room, and at the end Of three weeks they
were dry enough to plant. The potatoes
came mp we'll and had no disease.
This was looked upon as mere acci-
dentj bat lis seed potatoes having been
dried again the next year, apI again pro
ducing perfectly sound crop, while the
ncighboring crops we're all deceased, the
professors attention was drawn to the
phenomenon. and he made third trial
ia l952. This time all his own stock Of
potatoes being exhausted, he was obliged
to purchase his seed, which bore unn.is-
tlkeable marks Of having formed part of
"a crop that had been severely diseased,
some being quite rotten. After keeping
them for about a month in hot room, as
teforc he cut, the largest potatoes into
quarters, and the smaller into halves, and
left them to dry another week Accident
ally the drying was carried SO far that ap-
prchcnsions were entertained of very
bad crop, if any. Contrary to ezpecta-
ton, however, the sets pushed promptly,
and grew so fast that excellent young po-
tatoes were dug three weeks earlier than
usual.
This singular result, obtained in three
successive years, led to inquiry as toI
whether any similar cases were on record.
In the course Of the investigation, two
other facts were elected. t was discov-
cred that Mr.. Losovsky, Of Witebsk, had
for four years adopted tho plan Of drying
his seed potatoes, and that during that
lime there had been no disease on his es-
tate. It was again an accident which led
T. the practice Of this gentleman Five
years ago, while his potatoes were digging,
d. Pat one in his pocket, and on returning
home threw it on the stove, where it re-
manned forgotten till spring. Having
then Glanced to observe it, be had the
curiosity TO plant it, all dried up as it was,
and obtained an abundant, healthy crop:
since that time the practice of drying has
been continued, ana always with great
success. Professor Bollman remarks that
1t is usual in Russia, in many places, to
smoke dry fax, wheat and rye; and in
iae west Of Russia, experienced proprie-
tors prefer, for seed, onions that have
been kept over the winter in cottages
without 4 chimney.
The second fact is tLis: Mr.. Wasilcf-
sky, Of MoLilcff, is in the habit Of keep
ing potatoes all the year around, by store
ing them in the place where his hams
are smoked. It happened that, in the
spring Of 1852, his seed potatoes, kept in
the usual manner, were insufficient; and
he made up the requisite quantity with
some Of those which had been for month
iu the smoking place. These potatoes
produced capital crop, very little dis
eased, while at the same time the crop
from the sets which were net smoke dried
was extensively attacked by disease
Professor Bollman is Of opinion that there
would have been 10 disease at all if the
sets had been better dried The temper
ature required to producethe desired re-
suit is not very clearly made out. Mr.
BolIman's room, in which his first pota- E
toes were dried, was heated to about u
degrees and much higher. by way of
experiment, he placed others in the cham
Der Of the stove Itself, whore the ther-
stood at 1856 degrees, and more 3
He also ascertained that the vitality Of Z