Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-09-09
Potatoe Rot.

Mr.. Lyman Reed, of Baltimore, has made
discovery to the effect that the Potatoe rot
is caused by an insect The discovery of
which he gives as follows:
My MICROSCOPIC examination and exper-
irnents commenced at Waltham, Mass, in
N1S5l. In julie of that year, | found the
under leaves on my Potatoe stalks turning
yellowstone quite dead-whie the tops
and leaves and also the leaves and stalks of
other hills continued quite tarifty and green.
This peculiar circumstance, thus early in the
season, induced close observation and careful
examination into the phenomenon. A query
naturally arose--can fungus or atmosphere
act thus partially upon the plant ? Is there
not some other prcdisposing cause prevailing ?
From this investigation | felt confident that
insects or worms had attacked these plants at
the roots.
Acting from this impression examined
the roots, but with the natural vision no in
sects were found. The microscope, however,
revealed myriads of insects on the seed tu-
bers, roots, and stalks underground. The
attack upon the latter at the lower joint,
was visible in spots or marks resembling iron
rust.
Potatoes which had in jars and flower
pots in my shcd covered from any exposure,
experiment tubers) exhibited, under the mi
croscope, similar nsects-and tubers tax en-
from my cellar, at this time, had insects on
| those which were sprouted. Thus in three
Seperate and entirely dissimilar positions,
insects. similar in every respect were found,
evidently subsisting upon the sap of the
sprouts and vines This revealed to me un-
questionable evidence that, during the early
growth of the plant, insects ravages pro-
duced deterioration by the draining of the
sap from the vital part-thus causing the
disease. The insects being only microscopic,
rendered it extremely difficult to discover the
indus or alternating spot of their eggs.
| Early in my researches, however, I became
satisfied from the position of the young in
sects, that the eggs would be found near or
under the eyebrows of the potatoes. This
proved to be correct 1t was not until 1856
that first found the eggs. They are found
imbeded in the very sprouts and in the skin
near the eyes, but only with powerful mi
croscopc and by the light of che unclouded
sun can they~bo found. During the period
! from 1851 to 1856 my experiments in Gull
, tivatlon and otherwise we're continued. Since
the latter date [ have watched as before,
(seaied ingass jars and otherwise,) the de-
| n Of tha t,,ba Il.
progress of the eggs to the first animate mo-
ton of the tiny insects and their attack upon
the tender sprouts. The effects of their raw
ages, and the progress of their poison infused
into the vines, causing the malady. This in.
sect is the Aphis.
A Mr.. Henderson of Buffalo New York
has alse made similar discovery and gives
some very simple remedies, which are. killing
the egg by spinkling quick-lime upon the
seeds-preventing its development by deep
planting, by hoeing up well round the vines,
and filling up the cracks in the soil by press
ure-or by preserving an old Scotch meth
od of planting, which is as follows
The ground isplowed about foot deep, the
manure put in, with three to four inches Of
soil on that, and the potatoe planted. Crops
set in this way have never failed, the vines
sometimes being attacked, but the tubers al.
ways remaining sound. We hope that many
Of our readers will set to work and expcr-
iment on this matter, and although the bug
is very active and lively, he may be coughi
by shaking the vine quickly and picking him
up,