The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-08-03
The Potato Rot.

character r.''-Selected
The Potato Rot.
An important work on the prevention OF +
the potato rot, has just been published at
St. Petersburg. The author is Professor
Boliman, Russian Councillor of State,
and we find an interesting notice of the
publication in a late number of the Boston
Courier. Mr.. Boliman asserts from actu-
al experience, that thoroughly dried pota-
toes will always produce a crop free from
disease. This discovery he made by ac-
cident, but confirmed itby repeated subse.
quent trials. He had contrived potato
setter, which had the bad quality of des-
troying any sprouts that might be on the
sets, and even oftearing away the rind.-
To harden the potatoes, so as to protect
Them against this accident, he resolved to
dry them. Inthe spring of 1850, he placed
lot in very hot room, and at the end fl
three weeks they were dry enough to plant.
The potatoes came up well and had no
disease.
This, it is added, was looked upon as a
mere accident; but his seed potatoes hav-
ing been rdied again the next year, and a
gain producing perfectly sound crop,
while the neighboring crops were all dis,
eased, the Professors attention was drawn
| TO the phenomena, and he made third
trial in 1859. This time all his own stock
| of potatoes being exhausted. he was oblig-
led 10 purchase his seed. which bore un.
mistakable marks of having formed part
Of a. crop that had been severely diseased;
l., a.. l.,
them for about month in hot room, as
before, he cut the largest potatoes into
quarters, and the smallest into halves, and
left them to dry another week. Acciden-
tally the drying was carried so far that ap-
1 prehensions were entertained of very bad
crop, if any. Contrary to expectation.
however, the sets pushed promptly, and
grew so fast that excellent young potatoes
/ were dug three weeks earlier than usual.
/ This singular result, obtained in three
successive years, led to inquiry as to wheth-
/ er any similar cases were son record. In
] the course of the Investigation, two other
J facts were ELECTED. 1t was discovered that
Mr.. Losovsky, Of Witebsk, had for four
years adopted the plan Of drying his seed
/ potatoes, and that during that time there
had been no disease on his estate. II was
i again an accident which led to the practice
4 Of this gentleman. Five years ago, while
his potatoes were digging, he put one in
his pocket, and on returning home threw
il on his stove, where it remained forgotten
Itill the spring. Having then chanced to
observe it, he had the curiosity to plant it
Iall dried up as it was. and obtained an a.
bundant. healthy crop; since that time the
/ practice of drying has'been continued. and
always with great success. Professor Boil.
man remarks that it is usual in Russia, in
many places, to smoke-dry fax. wheat and
rye; and in the west of Russia, experienced
1 proprietors prefer, for seed, onions tha
have been kept over tho winter in cottages
without a chimney.
The second fact is this. Mr.. Wasileff
! sky, Of Mohileff. is in the habit Of keeping
potatoes all the year round, by storing
them in the place where his hams ar'
smoked. It happened that. in the spring
i of 1852, his seed potatoes. kept in the u
q sual manner, were insufficient; and h,
made up the requisite quantity with som,
ofthose which had been for month in III,
smoking place.. These potatoes produced
a capital crop. very little diseased, Will,
at the same time the crop from the set
which were not smoke-dried was extensive
, Ily attacked bv disease. Professor Boil
man is of opinion that there would hav
/, been no disease at all if the sets had beeI
. better dried. The temperature required
J to produce the desired result is not yer,
5 clearly made out. Mr.. Bollman's room
) in which his first potatoes were dried, wa
Il heated 10 about72 deg. and much higher
!, By way of experiment he placed others il
!, the chamber OF the stove itself, where tn
s g thermometer stood at 1856 deg, and more
a He also ascertained that the vitality ofth
4 flpotato is not. ot.saffected, even if the rind j
81 charred.
A method SO simple, rational and cheap
as is suggested above, cannot fail to recon
g mend itself to the attention ofsevery Amer
o lean farmer. If the remedy is eficacou
81 in Russia, there seems no reason why
8 should fail in this country. We have am
s. Pile proof in experience that the source Q
a the disease is the root itself, and not in an
J lnoxious quality Of the soil or atmospher
from which il derives its nutriment.
Four Legged Shanghai.