Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1877-12-12
AGRICULTURAL.

REPORTED REMEDY FOR THE POTATo
DIsEAsE--About three years since, DIR.
Voelcker, the eminent agricultural
chemist, had some peat charcoal sub
mitted to him for analysis and report.
By a new process il can be made
cheapiy and in large Quantities This
report was to the effect that its affinity
for ammonia was so great. as also its
general absorbent and deOdorizing pro
perties, that he considered il an exec.
lent base for An artificial manure, anu
one of the best agents for utilizing the
present wasted stores of condemned
fish, shambles, refuse and night soil.
Acting on these suggestions, the com
pany who make this charcoal on a moor
near Doncaster, prepared, by the aid OF
additional scientific advice. quantity
of manure. When in fit condition for
market, a sample was submitted TO DR..
Voelcker, and his sanalysis was so favor
able that gentleman at once sent five
tons of the manure out TO Ceylon for
use on his coffee plantation there, while
ma ny farmers in the neighborhood took
some. in quantities varying from one
half TO ten tons, principally for appli-
cation to their potato crops. The pro-
prietors especially recommended this
because they held the belief from the
beginning that the same properties
which enabled this peat charcoal TO rem
der the foulest fermenting or putrid
matter innocuous, instantaneously,
would likewise be extended to the
living plant for the prevention or eradi-
cation of disease. The results fully
confirmed this opinion. Although the
potato disease was very bad last season
in the large growing districts of York
and Lincoln, il was universally ad
mItted that wherever the charcoal man.
ure had been used the tubers turned up
clear and sound, and remained so
throughout the winter. The reports
are highly favorable this season-up to
the present; but as the crops are not
yet lifted, the complete reports have not
yet come in, excepting one from Sur
rey, where month ago, portion Of
the field on which charcoal was used
was luXuriant, while another portion
of it, planted with the same seed, and
on the same day, but to which some
ordinary barn yard manure had been
applied, presented dreadful appear
arce, quite one-half of the tops having
already disappeared, with no tubers
under them, and the other half shock
ingly diseased. Still stronger evidence,
if possible comes from Ceylon- During
the past three for four years scOurge,
called ''leaf disease" mas played havoc
in the plantations. That belonging to
the gentleman above mentioned was
among the worst affected, but he writes
that the results of the charcoal applica-
ton have been OF most extraordinary
character. He says that "the trees
which were entirely denuded of leaf at
the time of application MAY, 1870,
were making fine young wood, with
dark green leaves within six weeks,
although other portions of the planta
ton, manured at the same time with
other manures, showed no signs of
growth" In subsequent letters up to
this time he states that although the
ravages OF the disease are worse than
ever this season, this special portion of
his plantation has continued in clean,
healthy and vigorous condition, and is
having good crop of berries on the
trees. The public accounts have told
us for some time what general dcstruc-
ton of the coffee crop has taken place
this year. So satisfied is this gentleman
with the original trial, that he has
lately sent so tons of the manure out TO
his plantation.-PrestOR Guardian, Eng
land.