Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-01-29
Agricultural.


Since the almost complete destruction Of
the potato crop, 30 years ago The past sum
mer, by the rotor, as II was then sometimes
called the potato murrain there has perhaps
been no time when the plant has been entire
" free from the disease, though for. the past
% years IL has not been affected to great
extent. The disease was most destructive in
the year 1915, and It was first generally known
at this time. In Ireland the rot was even
worse than in this country, aud the loss Of
their principal food crop caused famine
among the Irish people. With us, potatoes
we're that year so badly rotted that many
fields were never dug. In other cases, after
having teen dug and stored 10 the cellar, they
became a putrid mass with an intolerable
STENCIL and it was necessary to use lime or
some disinfectant in removing them. Many
people feared to use the few sound potatoes
that we're found One person is we'll remem-
bered who refused for long time or until
new potatoes we're grown the succeeding year,
to taste them. This man has since died at
the age of lO2 years, and though his absti-
hence from potatoes may not have added one
day to his life, the possession of the pru-
dence that led to it may have added o score
Of years
There was much speculation then, as there
has been since, as to the cause OF the rot. 1t
WAS quite generally believed to be caused pri-
marily by weak or debiltated condition of
the plant, caused by long-continued cultiva-
ton and the division of the tubers for seed.
The idea still prevails that the failure of the
potato crop, or the diseases to which the
plant is subject, is in some way the result of
artificial propagation. But facts do not sus-
tain this theory on the contrary, it is known
that the potato rot has affected the wild plants
in South America. What is now generally
admitted to be the true cause of the potato
rot was discovered and described by the emf
nent microscopic botanist, Rev. ]. NJ. Berke
ley of England, in 1876, or the year following
that when the crop was threatened with en-
tire destruction by the new disease. 1t is a
microscopic fungus called peronoSpord inJes-
tans. 1t is exceedingly minute, and may ex-
ist in an apparently sound potato, causing rot
after it is stored in the cellar. There is no
known cure for the potato rot; the best that
can be done is to avoid such conditions as
promote the growth Of the fungus These
are principally warmth and moisture and de-
composing stable manure or vegetable matter.
The potato disease seems to have nearly
run its course for the last ten years the crop
has been sound, or il not so this has been the
exception. There has been, perhaps, this
year, a little more than the usual complaint
of potatoes rotting, especially in the cellar,
and this has revived discussion about the rem
edies for rot, and the causes of exemption
from it. 1t has been claimed that potatoes
grown on a slsty soil (clay sate) we're entire
ly exempt from rot, and considerable has
lately been said in the papers about the per
feet soundness of potatoes grown on slaty
soils, Attempts have been made to account
for the immunity from potato rot in such
soils by the greater quantity of potash which
they we're supposed to contain. A correspon-
dent of the Cultivstor, writing from Castle
ton, this state, pretty efectually disposes of
this theory. Referring to a correspondent
who claimed there were no rotten potatoes
dug from soil impregnated with slate, he says
he need not go more than a few rods from
home to find farmer who grew field of
potatoes on slate farm, and within a few
rods of a slate quarry, whose potatoes turned
out nearly all rotten. They rotted simply be-
cause they could not help it. August and
September were wet months, and too much
rain in these two months will rot potatoes on
all heavy soils, such as clay hArdpan, or any
level land with hardpsn subsoil, which can
not rid itself of surplus water, GrAvelly
soils and sandy soils are exceptions to THU
rule. Three years ago there was wet weather
in that section during August and the first Of
September, and potatoes rotted then just al
they did in 1856 In 1884 August and Sep
TENDER were dry months, and the potato croI
was good one, producing sound tubers snC
on heavy land doing the best. In 1885 pots
toes grown on sand and gravel gave goot
crop of sound potatoes.