The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1858-10-20
THE POTATO ROT OF 1857.


THE POTATO ROT OF 1857.
Among the conclusions that seem best
established by the facts observed in form.
er years is this: that heavy rains followed
by humid and hot atmosphere power.
fully favor or rapidly develop the potato
disease. In England, thunder-storms,
accompanied with heavy falls of rain, os-
Cured this season in the secoad week in
August. "On the succeeding days, OBJ
servations showed that the blight had ap.
peared, and was rapidly developing itself
in the tubers. So rapid was the progress.
that in many instances within ten days
one-half of the tubers we're diseased" !"
Another prevalent opinion, upon which
some light has been thrown by the facts
observed during this season, is. that the
character of the soil upon which the crop
is grown has powerful iuanence upon
this disease. It has been observed fire..
quently, and here as well as in Europe,
that where the soil and subsoil were damp,
the disease was more active than where
the soil and subsoil were both porous.
Calcareous soils, such as those resting on
chalk, have generally produced compar.
atively sound crops. The presence Of
carbonate of lime in excess appears to be
a certain specific against the development
of the fungus. This season, as formerly,
the crop has been less effected on calcare-
Gus than on sandy soils. The practice
which has prevailed for some years of
preferring sandy soils for the cultivation
of potato crops, may require some modI
| fcation or reconsideration of the basis
upon which it rests rs the crops on light
sandy soils, on the eastern side of Scot.
land, are, in most instances, seriously af.
fected. On the western side, however
this immunity from disease is confined
mainly to the dry, porous, sandy and
peaty soils.
i As to the influence of different kind.
and amounts of manure, nothing new
seems to have been developed. Farm
yard manure applied a. the time of plant
ing. is found to increase the percentage o
disease. Lime composts, and also pea
and peat composts have been found t.
, favor the production of healthy tubers
| Ground bones. and genuine super-phos
, pilates have been found beneficial. Th,
, results from guano have been various; bu
on the whole it has acted as partial pre-
ventive. "Soot has been found of al
5 monures the most effective in warding Of
the disease. When applied at the rat
Of several hundred weight at the period o
. planting, the crop has generally been larg
: and comparatively sound. When spplie
D on the surface after the potatoes have bee
] hoed, the preserving power seemed to b
q even greater" An experiment has bee
n tried with sulphur without success. Th
J. e1perimenter has since thought that tn
e cause why the sulphur busted upon tn
e leaves of the vine did not prevent ii
= spread of the fungus, was that the por'
n are first developed on the under side
!. the leaf. Sulphur, when applied to graz
e vines. is forced upward against the leav,
a by means of machine for the purpos
q The period of planting, it is pret
s. generally admitted, has decided i
q auence upon the extent and virulence
l. the disease. Experience is in favor
r. early planting, so as to admit of the mo
TO early ripening Of the crop. This year
|. observations tend to confirm this prefe
D. ence of early planting. the autumnal rain
i. followed by high temperature, haviI
IN obviously developed or intensified the d
u ease. .. --... .... -s....
D. The observations Of this year seem al
i; to bear out the belief that deep GOVERN
n up by the soil lessons the attack, and tn
Ill those tubers which are nearest the surfa
e. are generally first attacked, and me
r. commonly on the end of the potato neu
10 est to the surface.
as Observations made this year favor t
be impression that tubers which were stor
th previously to full maturity, or while I
n. skin is yet thin and easily ruffled. q
,ic skin being thicker and tougher in
i. matured stage are more favorable to
healthy growth, when used as seed, til
t, those fully matured before storing.
ep The observations Of this year wor
a seem 20 warran. the undertaking of ad,
as tional experiments with the carbonate
es lime as top.dressing, &c. Several ,
of rieties which were formerly compsrati'
nd ly exempt from the blight, have this u
ii. been very generally afected.-Ceun
as Gentlemon
Il