Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1869-10-21
Agricultural
Thoughts about the Potato Diseas a

ThouShU ABOUT the Potato Disease
One can hardly look into . newspaper,
and not see this item repeated, '.the po-
,atoes rot badly" Most Of farmers had
come to regard . dry season. As one, in
which they were sure 10 escape the potato
disease. while . season. vet and warm.
was equally rs sure to induce 1t. chain
OF fortuitious circumstances has favored
this atmospheric" hypothesis for some
years, until it was becoming we'll resolved
into theory. which II seemed. was unwise
10 question. that something in the atmos-
phere caused the potatoes 30 rot. But this
excessively dry season has taken the foun-
dation from under even. this theory and
buried 1t with the scores Of Others which
have preceded it leaving the cause ''mys-
tery, still.
That climatic extremes may intensely
aggrava,c the disease. is not susceptible
OF question. but that these cause. or origi-
nate the disease. is far from probable. and
search here. For the real origin, IS
waste of time in nimhling among seconds
~ causes. The beginning Is farther hack
and deeper down.
Many other fancifal theories have had
this brief exstancc and like this have gone
10 deceive, no more.
Among the "theories" which savored Of
plau.ibility, might he enumerated. the
theory OF degeneration. the theory of
defective elements the loss OF polarity
theory," the insec, theory" and the fun
gus theory"
The insect theory" has many warm
advocates, especially, in England and their
reasonings are almost convincing. and their
arguments nearly unsnswersblc. under
certain conditions. and within certain
years. Then. a year viii roll it, round,
which, to use $ familiar expression, throws
the theory higher than a Kite" A. the
present year has the atmospheric theory ."
The fungus theory has taken deep root
Ii the minds OF many. and is not easily
eradicated 1t Is itself mystery taken
10 explain mystov. by the same rule,
that they set rogue 10 catch a rogue. :"
Many q scientific man in working with
might and main 10 defend it, prc;en;ion>.
In regard TO the origin of these fungi.
the world i fall Of oonjecture- and diversi-
" OF opinion. and their appearance can no
more he accounted for. than the origin 81
intestinal worms. Toad-Stools, mould.
mil-dew. smut. rust; and dry-roI are com
pretended BY Botanists under the name ~
fungi The proud k,sA formed in wounds
belongs to this same class II Is fungus
growth.
These parasitic plants for such they are
really. are believed by some to be Of spon-
taneous generations. while others are
equally As confident that the fungus germ
or seed. exists in every Kind OF f.rn.enf1blc
juice or sap, that II Is an organism within
an organism, that when, by reason OF " hat
ever cause, fermentation takes plsc.. there
minute gems burst into life 10 feed aud
prey upon, and destroy the plani or organ
ism which gave II birth. Now. for it, ap-
plica,ion u the potato. A majority of
these who have have inv c-;isa;cd this sub
jcct and whose opinions are WORTHY -
weight offer A. the grognd-wors ~ ihcir
faith IN this theor these considerations
.Aat whenever the disease appears. ningi
are present. that these exists In the juice
uf the potato numerous minute Yeast cells
gems or seeds. ready 10 gernina;e. like the
eggs OF the inflsoria. whenever favorable
condition Of things presents Itself and that
sudden changes OF temperature. or the
electrical condition Of the atmosphere. or
mechanical violence Cruising the potato
may be these needed conditions.
Notwithstanding the weight ofinvestiea-
ton. and the voluminous writings brought
- attest 10 the truth Of this rheory we can
not but regard the origin OF these lowest
forms Of vegetable life. these fungi. 70 be
s greater mystery. than that Of the cause
OF The potato disease, itself believing. that
more recent Investigations show that
while these vegetable parasites may hasten
ahd intensity the disease they are not the
disease they are not the primary cause
III be true. that fungi in Whatever form
either. as rot, smut. rust, mould. nildcw,
curl. or blight are Of spontaneous genera
tion. the most damaging argument in an
.wer to the theory. would be silence,.. and
ali hope OF the potato ever being restored
70 healthfll condition. would have TO be
abandoned. until the whole tribe OF fungi
we're frst destroyed, labor practically as
impossible as tha, Of counting the grains
Of sand upon the sea->hore.
ON the contrary. the most careful peri
ments show, that these fungi the lowest
type Of vegetable existence. do not de-
pend on spontaneous generation.7 There
Is nothing OF chance In their appearance
The species are Is distinct and a. wei de-
nned As in other parts of the vegetable
kingdom. II remains 10 he seen in all the
careful examinations, that any posltire eyi-
dcnce exists, that these fungi become prac-
tible. that is, live 81 the cost OF that ON
which IL grows, until the pisnt or vegers-
bic which nourtsbes 1t, has. by age. debili-
tstion. abuse, or some other cause, been
deprived OF its fsii -igr and strength.
Thst the fungi multiply rapidly proving
great source OF annoyance and If loss 70
~ N''if VI
vegetable. and for ought We know. OF ami
NAL life is not 10 be denied. The evidences
are too sbundent and conclusive. But thai
they are the moving and frs, great cause
OF the mischief charged upon them. ther,
are no reliable date 10 show.
Regarding the potato. IL is assumed thai
other agencies have predisposed this valua
able edible TO disease, aud that fungi are .
consequence and not . cGsse OF such disease
That they will not vegetaie in perfectly