The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-08-16

The Culture of the Potato.

1880
The fact that the potato disease has
ragged for SO long a time, is greatly to
be deplored. and more especially as
all other remedies hitherto given have
failed. Whether Mr.. Warren be cor
rect in ~supposing that his mode of cui-
tivating the potato and saving the
seed, will not only cure the disease
but also prevent its recurrence, re-
mains to be proved. Still, it cannot
be doubted that the views set forth
by Mr.. Warren are worthy not only of
consideration, but of being put in
practice, and even if what he suggests
will not entirely cure and prevent the
potato disease, still it. cannot be
doubted hat the careful culture and
manner of saving the seed, recon-
mended by him, must be conducive
to the best results. n--4rf GI-rsr
Mr.. Warren says: The potato being
hermaphrodite 10 character. il is the
intention of Nature that each blossom
should fructify itself and others
growing near; that each plant should
bear and mature seed to perfect ripe
ness. Either the seed or the tubers
is then in a fit condition to propa-
S0LC. dlu uQJ OlASI lSC lOI L1ClG ID d
sympathetic action going on, in, and
between the seed, the tubers, and all
other parts of the plants during the
process of elaboration and assimila-
ton of the vital principle in their
proper proportions, which is to insure
to both seed and tuber the ability to
transmit a perfect organism to the
next generation. IF this natural pro-
cess is frustrated in a small degree,
the organism must be imperfect, and
although a tribe of tubers may carry
on the work of reproduction for a
length Of time under these adverse
circumstances, their vitality mus. at
length be expended. Fungus now
takes hold, and hastens decay,
when infusoria, &C., enter, and
the tuber is dead, simply of er-
haustOn. 1t has been the general
practice of farmers to make two
paintings in each year, an early kind
for Summer use, and a later kind for
Winter use; the first planting is done
as early us practicable in the Spring;
the sets used are taken from what
happens to remain of the proceeding
years crop, of the early kind, with lit
tie or no selection, while the first
shoot abovelground1is often cutAbaek
by frost. Then as soon as the young
tubers attain the size of hickorynuts.
the fibrous roots areIlaids bare and the
immature plant remorsely robbed of
its immature progeny for early use.
This robbery often is repeated Il the
great detriment of the plant. Being
thus robbed, they generally are left
IN tho rrarn1 fn ha I,,x $50 at &b1
time of the late crop; and if they have
made second, or eve third growths,
or produced seed or not, the husband
man cares not he. thinks potatoes are
potatoes; and from such he expects
sound ines may be propogated. But
Nature says no. If you will not ex-
ercise reason and act 10 con-
cert with me, your potatoes shall
die, and | will feel my infusoria with
them. The late crop is generally plant
ed SO as to allow them barely time to
make tubers that will barely keep
through the Winter, and the vines are
often cut down by frost before the seed
is matured; in which case the tubers
have an imperfect organism. Some
seasons they make a4considerable Sec
ond growth, and very few plants have
sufficient energy necessary to fructiti-
cation, and consequently they bear no
seed. At the approach of Winter
they are dug, but no selection is made
for next years sets. Those which are
n 7 marketed are often culled over
through the Winter. The most
lcomely,are taken for table. use.g and
the misshapen ones left for seed.
Now, a tuber which makes a second
or lateral growth imrarts a portion of
its substance and vitality to the out
growth lit lsjthen not very goodfor
food, and much less so for seed. Ma
lure has decreed that potatoes may
generate BEAUTIFULLY, once in one year
and no more; all beyond this IS unnot-1
ural, and hat which is unnaturalc can
not endure. By a continuation of
such practices, sooner orslater, death
by exhaustion must be the inevitable
consequence. Hence ii is necessary
to adopt a e and more efficient
practice, 10 order to reclaim and per-
petuate the potato. Choose the BEST
known variety, which has the quality
OF maturing IN "a moderately short
time. Take 1t under your special !
care Plant 1t either for Summer or |
Winter use, the difference being senly /
in the time of Planting. EoSSummerI
as early a. you, choose at yourssoxn
risk: but -asg NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
tubersrssI8 as II rmiuingqawhena TO
plant faH she5 na "a crop seversl things1
Should beneansidend. suchasasslate
aud early frdsts. alatitudes elevation
&c. Good h~usbandry will be necessa-
r. as d matter of course. but be care-o
fal not TO disturb the roots. after
b~!o$somipg. W5eP,fhe Xines Hne7l