New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-09-14
THE POTATO ROT IN WESTERN NEW
YORK.
; The n. Y. Tribune.

Cotresponderc- Of The ~ Y. Tribune.
BrPfALo, Sept. II, 1851.
new phase has just been put upon the prospect Of
the potato crop in this vicinity, which is creating
some anxiety The quantity Of potatoes in the
ground this region considerably greater than in
any previous year. and up to within the last ten days
no fner growth was probably ever seen. About ten
deys ago the tops in some fields suddenly showed dis
ease-tho stalks aud leaves becoming withercd.
Wherever this took place the potatoes were found
monthly attacked with tae rot ard the rapidy with
which this maady has spread in the brief tune since
lis first appearance is unequaed in the history Of any
e rmer year. There fields which ten days since
gave signs of the disease, that now give out It's
well known odor to the passer-by upon fhe hlgh way,
Our County Agricultural Fair was bid this week,
and made extensive inquiries of the farmers Assem-
bed there respecting the disease. From various parts
Of this and Cbautauque County they report the same
state of things that have witnessed ia the fields OF
this ycipity-the same suJdenne.e Of attack and the
same general extent. i yesterday examined five diff.
erent fields, of them several miles apart, and ia
every If them more or le's OF diseased potstoss
were found. In many instances the diseased acton
was but barely perceptibe upon tn; potatoes, even
when it was well developed upJn the stalks while IN
Others, its progress bad been much greater
How extensive this malay is 10 prove. this season.
l cannot iucge, as have no autheHtlc information a.
yet beyond The two COUNTIES mentioned; ard, iadeed
the attack has been sudden that there has yet been
no time to h, ar Of it fom more distant parts IN any
detail.
As in former years so now a multitude Of theories
arc amt st daily put forth to explain this vegetable
Epidemic. One tells you it is the soil that in fault.
In one LEGALITY this has mc in It, and that has done
the mi chief while in another the want of lime has
produced the disc Then the weather is 10 lees
charged with miscbit i-makirg. Upon one mans field
il rained at certain age OF the moon, when should
not and that brought the disease there while in
distant town the rot prevailed because rain did not
fall as il should have DONE at that very age of this
zane moon. These are but two Of the numerous fol-
lies that we daily hear aud from which great mischief
arises TO the community. For instance, we are here
upon lime formation aud the potato rot is now run
ming not in our ungathered crop, whether growing in
clay or a sandy SOIL aud whether such soil be wet
or a dry one. Yet that disease IL doing the ane
thing in the south part of this county and in the adj
joining County Of Clauauque, both OF which regions
arc far above geoloscaly, and wi b soils resting
upon sandstoDcs and shales.
The truth is that thc history OF this disease, both in
Europe and America, has everywhere furnished posi-
tive tesls each and every theory that has yet
been advarced in regard TO the agency of SOIL state
of weather, &c, i'll Producing it, and no fact Is
better known than this, 10 all Gu n "a have carefully
stuotd that history, IN 0lHs det0H All such students
have found that facts which in given locality, have
given Iise TO theory, aud to sustain ii, have
been found elsewhere, TO have been coupled with
totally dcrs Mt results and proving by ali the rules
of reasoning. that they had 10 agencyin The mat.
ter eiihe L Gle way or the other.
What is to be the extent Of this Malay the present
year. il, Just now, al inquiry OF much Importance.
melton made OF its presence u other States, 30
To is certainly not local with and this adds TO
the fesis ihatits revages may prove extensive.