Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-11-18
Farm anO Ionstbolo
cuest!eas a-a Sepl!es.


in practice. to be reliable. This paper NAV
be the frs; Of series. to be continued
while Jack Frost triumphs, or the months
are in "icy feticrs bound"
WHAT Is Book FARNING2-If the reader
knows how to milk COW. shear a sheep. or
to do any other Kind Of farm work in the
best way. he is just the man 10 do book
farming-to write on the subject. Book
farming with all the odium which ignorance
and prejudice have cast upon it, is simply
the best mode Of farming put in print by
one yersed in the business he writes upon.
An advanced agriculture demands more
mind and less muscle.
WHAT Is WITH CERTAINTY KNOWN of
THE CAUSE OF THE POTATO DISEASE ?-lt Is
well known TO scientists that the potato rot
is produced Y species Of fungus botanic
ally known a. Peronosyora iHfestaHs. The
first word is the Greek for boring seed. The
cause and character Of the disease is strip
ped Of It's mystery. or eoncealment, and the
theories wkch provoked long war Of
words have been disproved The hfe-his
tory of the potato fungus is now well IN
derstood.
Some OF the more popular and plausible
theories were that the malady was caused by
iHfusoria microscopic insecis), or that the
weather was out Of k,lter. some meteorio or
electrical disturbance. Hence, the remed-
les, antidotes and nostrums devised were
manifold. Thus. for Years, farmers CROPPED
in darkness. tried everything, but accom-
plished nothing
After few wears farmers came to know
something Of the character Of the disease.
They observed that when potatoes were in
blossom. or just gone by. that if rain, or
fog null, was succeeded by scalding
weather the rot took place forthwith. They
knew that when brotrH spdftors appeared
upon the leaves the rot had STRUCK.
They did not know that the brown spots.
or spatters, consisted Of a fungus and that
the corrosive action of that fungus caused
the potato rot.
Although the potato disease had not be
come sufficiently vide spread and malignant,
TO attract attention until 1913. il does no,
follow tina, j, is a new disease, or had lis
origin in some unnatural condition Of the
weather. On the contrary, it is believed TO
be an old foe which came with and has
slung TO the potato since lis first introduo-
ton, ready to work mischief when the con
ditions Of earth, air, and potato are favor
able
Fungus is a vegetable growth, plant,
true parasite plant, having neither blossoms
nor seeds. Mould, mildew. smut, rust, dry
rot, black knot, ergot, toad-stools, and sim-
lar productions are known as fungi. The
germ theory Of disease, now accepted as the
cause Of the epidemics TO which humanity is
exposed, is only another name for a fungu.
which preys upon animal life.
The epizootic, or qDizooty, whichever i
the right word so fatal to horses in 1872.
and SO prevalent in 1850, is supposed TO be
caused by germ" specie. of fungus,
Another theory is that the epizoo;ic is caus-
Cd by too large amount Of ozone (o1ygen
in new FORM being presen, in the atmos-
phere.
How to check OF &c DESTROY the potato
fungus is the next achievement and to this
end science is working with the utmos,
patience and care. 1t is discovered tina,
dustings Of sulphur will abate the ravages of
certain species Of fungus. and lining potatoes
when stored, is fatal to the fungus spores.
Is THE WEED CALLED "GRoUxD PINE"
Or HoRsETAIL, INJURIOUS TO HORSES AND
OTHER STOCK Properly speaking, the
Horsetail (Eqiusetum arrersel is not weed,
but one Of the securing PUSHES. II is a
fowerless or cryptogamous plant of which
there are some ten species. Il is largely
composed Of silica, or sand Ii grows in
greater profusion on the sandy banks of
railroads than anywhere else From its
resemblance TO miniature pine tree comes
the name Of ground pine"
There is popular belief tina, Horsetail
causes the disease called blind staggers,r
which is type of disease known as cerebro-
spinal meningitis. Well authenticated
cases confirm the impression that Horsetail
causes blind staggers and abortion as well.
For COWS, while il viii increase the flow of
milk, il is too irritating and securing.
Sheep eat 1t with a relish. Ii is q vile plant.
al best, and should be fed with caution.
Is A cRIBBISG HORSE, SOUND ONE I'm
law, cribbing is regarded as an evidence of
unsoundness. We have vet 10 see a relIa-
bic Work on Diseases of the Horse which
processes to know whether it is disease or
a habit If it is playfalness it i. a fantastic
trick which is not amusing to the owner.
Sometimes II is attributed 10 an ailment of
the teeth If horse suddenly takes to crib
bins IT is an indication of iaeipie.t s,aggers,
the horse has been over-fed, with no work
and has therefore, rush of blood to the
brain. Cribbing, be it what it may, is an
evil in itself, which may rightly be called an
unsoundness.
WHAT Is PARIS GREEN Paris Green
is almost pure arseniie Of copper, a rank
poison. As an iHseeticide, the chief ingre-
dents are sal soda, arsenic, acetic acid, and
sulPhate of copper. 1t is chemical pro-
duct costing % cents pound to make it,
1t is an almost impalpable powder. 1t is
almost impossible to use it, so its presence
cannot be felt in the mouth and throat.
RURAL.
Permanent Relief.