The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1858-04-16

The Potato Rot oi I'D"

osN
anonc The conclusions that seem best
..,aLI,sLcd nv the facts observed IN iormer
-, h. ,bis-that heavy rains followed by
humid and hot a,mosPcrc powerfully favor
., r,pidy deyelope the potato disease. In
E,glapd. thunderstorm, accompanied win
heavy falls OF rain, occurred this season the
second week in August. ION the succeed
inc DAYS, observation showed that the blight
had appeared, and was rapidly developing
itself in the tubors. So rapid was the pro-
press. that in many instances within ten
DAYS one half Of the tubers diseased" An
other prevalent opinion. upon which some
light has been thrown by the Facts observed
during this season, Is, that the character o'
the soil upon which the crop - grown mas
powerful influence upon this disease. IL
b,s been observed frequently, and here as
we'll as in Europe, that where the soil ana
snbsoiI were damp, the disease was more
active than where the soil and subsoll were
moro MARQUIS. CalcareOus soils, such as
those resting on chalk, have generally pro-
Juced sound crops. The presence OF car
Donate Of lime in excess appears to be a
certain specific against the development OF
the fungus. This season, as formerly, inc
crop has been less affected ON calcareous
Than ON sandy soils. The practice which
has preyailed for some years Of PreteHing
sandy soils for the cultivation OF potato
crons. may require some modification or a
Reconsideration Of the basis upon which II
rests. "a the crops on light sandy soils, on
the eastern side Of Scotland, are IN most
instances seriously affected. On the west
ern side, however, this immunity from dis
case is confined mainly to the dry, porous
sandy and peaty soils.
As 10 the influence Of different kinds and
amounts of manure, nothing new seems TO
have been developed. Farm-yard manure
applied at the time oil planting, Is iosnd 10
increase the percentage OF disease. Lime
composts, and also peat compost, nave oeeh
found to favor the production oil healthy 'u'
bers. Ground bones, and genuine super
phospha,es, have been found beneilclah-
THE results from guano have been various
hut ON the whole il has acted as partial
preyentiyc. "Soot has been found OF all
manurcs the most effective IN wardlns OIL
the disease. When applied at the rate oil
several hundred weight at the period oil
nlaniinr. the crop has generally been large
ard comparatively sound. When applied
on the surface after the potatoes are hoeu'
the preserving power seems even TO DC great
cru An experiment has been tried win
sulphur without success. The experiment.
or has since thought that the cause why the
sulphur busted upon the Leases oil the vine
did not prevent the spread OF the fungus
was that the pores are first developed on the
under side Of the leaf. Sulphur, when APP
Piled 20 grape vines, is forced upward against
the leaves by means Of machine Tor the
The period of planting, il is pretty gen.
orally admitted, has decided influence up
on the extent and yirulcncc OF tins disease
Experience is in favor of early planting, SO
as to admit of the more early rpenlng OF
The crop. This years observations tend to
confirm this preference Of early planting,
the autumnal rains, followed by high tenn
pcraturc, having obviously developed or IN
tCnsiiied the disease.
The observations Of this year seem also
10 bear out the belief that deep covering up
by the soil lessons the attack, and that those
tubcrs which are nearest the surface are
generally first attacked, and most commonly
on the end of the potato nearest to the sur
face.
Observations made this year favor the
impression that tubers which were stored
previously to full maturity, or while the skin
Is vet thin and easily Tuilled 1.-THE skin being
thicker and tougher in the maturcd stage,)
are more favorable to healthy growth, when
used as seed, than those fully matured be-
fore stOrmlng.
The observations Of this year would seem
10 warrant the undertaking OF additional
experiments with the carbonate OF lime us
A top dressing, &c. Several varieties W hleh
were formerly comparatively exempt from
the blight, have this year been very gener-
ously aflectcd.-COmiry Gentleman