Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1858-06-18
AGRICULTURAL.
the P0TlT0-aOT- HeW TT MlY
BIZ PREVENTED.

The general prevalence, all over the country,
Of the disease kaown as tls potato rot, has
greatly impaired tie value Of the crop, and
prevented many farmers from eultigating 10 tie
same extent as vas formerly DONE So serious
has been tie eyil 70 tie agricultural interest
that both men Of science and the ptaoticaI Gar.
iners have given much attention to Investigating
the cause Of s6e potato disease, and to the dis
EcaFery Of a remedy
day or tao since, we received Letter from
Irwin Sampson, Esq, a very intelligent farmer
who has tiled the soil all the days Of his life,
IN tie rich country Dear New Wllningtea, IN
Lawrence county, IN which he gives Us wilat he
claims as simple, and cheap pregentige Of the
potato rot. He is satisfied, from experiments
which he himself has made, that the following
is a sure remedy Cor the evil:
Take double handful Of we'll ro;tel ok
aeood, aud scatter 1t upon the seed potatoes in
the hill, and then cover with earth in the usaaI
manner, and there viii be 10 signs of rot. h
made the discovery three years ago. iaa elear-
ing, jast made and planted with potatoes. He
observed that where the roofs Of the potato
came in contact with ashes, tie hin was entire
y rotten, bn' thai in adjoiniug bills whero the
roots came il contact with tha cid rottea oak
wood Of the clearing, every potato WIS sound
and dry In bills where there was neither
ashes nor aecayod oak wood, the potatoes we're
about one-half rotten. Taking the hiut fro.o
these observations, Mr. Sampson has tested tbs
discovery for three ya@ss fass,-@,-l i,s-=4 4-r@er
found q diseased potato in the bills where the
pulyerizsd oak wood has been sprlied and in
patches where there we're 10 docaycd potatoes,
the ROOFS we're found 10 grog larger and heal
tlier, and Of a better flavor where the oak wood
vas used. th4n where ii was not. Nc s. is
but plato practical farmer, aad does not al
tempt to give scientific reason for this result
bat simply announces tie fact, aud the result
Of his experiments i IS vel, known that the
oak possesses high antiseptia AMI other pecniiar
qualities, IS tannin cutters largely into It's COM
position 1t Is for scientific men 10 ascertain
what Is the peculiar principle which produces
this result. The farmer can avail himself Of
the knowledge of tie fact that j, does prevent
he rot, for Mr. sampson statements are full
iy l,hatle. Every one who cuitivates tie soil
in this part of the country al least, can readily
obtain rotten oak wood IN sufficient quantities
to make the experiment for himself with all
he potatoes be may plant. The discovery Is
an important one, aad sc hope our readers in
the country districts Will try the experiment
this season apd, communicate IL. Us in the fall
the result fer publieaiiou.-E Erctaags.
HAY GAPs.--These articles wa wish to keep
before tue people We are persuaded from
our own experience ard observation, that no
small investment, il tools 10 work With, will
pay better than hay caps. lay cured in the
sock is much better than tia, overdried in the
sun. With these articles on hand, the farmer
is master of his circumstances, and can throw
the old adage, Make hay while the sun Shines
to the winds. At least, he can stop making
it before the juice IS all evapora,ed, and can
put bis hay into cock, without fear Of rain to
finish the curing process il the best manncr.-
A single shower will often damage ton of
half-dried hay, four or ise dollars. Tie hay
caps, to save it, would not cost much more
They are almost certain to pay for themselves
every season they are used, aud ia some wet
seasons they will save several times their cost
They can bc got up for from twenty to forty
cents apiece, according 70 size aud qualify
For an ordinary cock, weighing about a huu-
dred pounds, cap one yard ard half square
Is plenty large enough. Its we'll, however, to
have few Of two yards square, for extra sized
cocks, for the tops Of stacks, and for shocks Of
grain which are not put up TO stand the weath-
er The objections to hay caps are generally
made BY persons who do not understand the
use of them. They are best put on with loops
III the corners, and pins; and with little ex-
psrielee in handling, the ordinary force upon a
farm in haying time viii be atle to secure a
mornings moving against ali showers that give
any notice Of their coming. 1t is very little
work to make them, they need no paiu:ing aud
fhey do project the bay. &c, them in season
bat you may moi have to suffer the upbsaid-
ings Of conscience, when you fnd yourself