Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1880-08-19

hardly therefore be fruitful source of dis
easel and by resting spores, as to which
some light has been thrown of late years by
the researches OF Prof. De Barry and Mr..
Wortl'lngten G. Smith. The former saws
"ln the first place, it is clearly established
that the conldea have very short existence
and are Incapable of living through the Win
ter From what is certainly known about
all feronosporte, we can only look to rest
ing spores which endure through the win
ler and to perennial mycelium in the tu-
bers, for maintaining the life OF the fungus.
1t has long been known that perennial my
celum frequently occurs in the tubers.''
Resting spores had Dot been discovered by
DE Barry; but Mr.. Worthington G. Smith
has found them, and his Investigations are
duly recorded in the pages OF the Gardeners
Chronicle, Nature, and the Journal Of the
Royal Agricultural Society. Mr.. Braven-
der believes that the disease existed among
the wild plants of the Solanum family on
tie western coast of America before the DO
tato was cultivated, and before man appear
ed on tile scene; and as if in confirmation
OF this a fossil fungus. nearly allied to the
Peronospora, was discovered by MIR. But
terworth, of Oldham, in the Palaozoc
rocks. Mr.. Bravender thinks that the orig
inal home Of the disease may have been Col
orado, and that it reached civilization in the
same way as the celebrated beetle.
Mr.. Bravender gives excellent advice to
the aborer as to the means by which he
may mitigate, if not entirely prevent loss.
He should plant as early rs the state OF the
land will allow, and if the soil Is light. COW
er the tubers with 5 inches of soil. Direct
ly they appear above ground they must be
covered with long litter or straw, SO as to
protect from frost, which otherwise would
c',t down the stems and seriously iniure
the plants. The sets are TO be carefully
prepared tor planting by being placed in
trays in warm room, frequently under the
laborer's bed. In this way good shoots are
made, and future growth expedited. Sorts
recommended are the Royal Ashleaf, Amer
lean Early Rose and EARLY Vermont as
later varieties, the Redskm, Flourball and
Skerry Blues are good sorts. Myatt's Ash
leaf Kidneys are much used, and seem an
variety. In most seasons these
sorts, especially ii the seed Is prepared to
sprou'ing, are fully ripe, or nearly so, be-
fore disease appears. II the tops are dead,
the potatoes are safe ; and even if this were
not the case, and the haulm retained its
greenness and vitality, the potatoes might
be fit for digging. In which case no disease
would follow, even though the haulm was
affected. When the disease first appears, |
he laborer should carefully examine the
crop from day to day, and directly the
caves are affected he should dig up few
'oots to ascertain the state of his crop, and
t they are sufficiently advanced to allow of
storing, he should take up at once The
armer. unfortunately, has seldom the OPP
'ortunity OF very early planting, because
&c cannot protect the young shoots; but
he can use second early sort, and these
nay often be got up before the disease
makes its appearance.
Mr. Bravender describes Norwegian va
iety which was said to be disease-proof,
nd it did produce several crops without
isease; but last year they suffered to
ertain extent. 1t would seem at first sight
hat the fact that diseased tubers did not al
'ays produce diseased crop was opposed
0 the fungus theory; but Mr.. ,Bravender
oints out that a certain amount Of moist
re is necessary for the development of the
lnguS. If these views as to propagation
re correct, potatoes that are grown year af-
.r year on the same ground should be
luch more liable to disease than those that
re only repeated at long intervals; yet we
re not certain that this is the fact. There
no doubt as to the sonndness of the ad-
ice as to burning or burying deeply dis
,sed haulns and tubers. MIR. Bravender's
Splanation as to the reason for some varie-
eS resisting disease more than others, is
lat the mycelnm of the fungus cannot so t
.adily traverse the cell walls of the plant
3 recommends greater care in the growth
seed. and advises that The sets intended 1
produce seed should be planted yard {
1art in the rows. and removed some dis {
81, e