The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-02-19
The Secret of the Potato Disease.
Lyman Reed, of Boston, in New York Ledger.i

Lyman Reed, Of Boston, In New York Ledger.l
Prof. de Barry, of Strasburg, the in
vestigators in France, Rev. j. M. Berk-
ley, and other scientists of England, and
many in America, have labored diligently
during period of thirty years, to dis
cover the origin and true cause of this
malady. The utmost they have discov-
cred by their researches and experiments,
is, that Fungus" is found upon the
vines and their theory il that disease
originates from this parasitical growth,
and that from its attack and continued
presence, rust in the vines and rot in the
tubers follows.
The idea that fungus originates the
potato disease is a fallacy. The fungi
never start spontaneously from healthy
plant or substance. They are exhalations
from purelent, morbid condition of the
plant or substance from which they start
and derive their nourishment. Fungus
is consequence and not the cause of
the disease.
Ny experiments and microscopic ex-
aminations of the potato reveal wonder
full inherent substances-eggso of insects
developing organisms never described
by entomologists as connected with the
potato, nor referred to in any of the early
or later scientific Investigations. They
have entirely overlooked the hidden
enemy, the secret source, where and from
whence the potato disease originates. /
furnish the following facts For years
past / have taken different varieties of
potatoes, washed, and actually scrubbed
them thoroughly with a stiff brush.
These potatoes being subsequently sub
I 4 Il, 90
when planted-develop, after a few
weeks, myriads of living microscopic
(iaypCe) insects. The epidermis of the
tuber, examined with the microscope show
at this time the eggs of the insects; also
their embryonic state in various stages
of development. They appear to be pro
tected by a gluten until warmth and
moisture dissolve the adhesive substance
which first fastened them to the epider-
mis-. Myriads of this larvae come into
existence from the potatoes planted,
leave their indus (nest), and adhere suck
torially to the roots for subsistence,
thereby poisoning the vines and destroy
ing their vitality. Blight in the vines
and rot in the tubers follow.
Potatoes from England, Scotland, Ire
land, France, Germany, Prussia, and
other countries, all, by experiment and
microscopic Investigations, show the
same results.
Those foreign tubers contain, inner
emily, the eggs of the larvae, and the same
elementary action that develops the stalk
and roots brings to life these deadly enc
mics of the crops.
The insects are always semi-aquatic III
this larva state, and remain during this
period of existence upon the roots and
new tubers
Statistics from agricultural districts of
various countries show an aggregate loss
of hundreds of millions of dollars in the
potato crop annually. England reports
a loss of $500, 000, 900 by the potato disease
in 1872. And yet England, and all Eu-
rope combined, with scientists in ento-
mology and microscopy unsurpassed,
have never traced out the underground
rendezvous where the enemy are reserved
for their annual campaign of destruction.