The Potatoe Disease.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 5, Issue 235, 16 May 1861, Page 4

The Potatoe Disease.

“ The potatoe disease has shown itself very generally in the neighbourhood of Yankalilla. The correspondent of the Observer (Adelaide) writes: —‘ All the growers are in consequence hurrying their crops into market and shipping them off, and us a natural result the quantity offering for sale is greater than the local demand. There have been, however, fewer growers, of potatoes here than in preceding years, and it is probable the crop will not ex-1 ceed the requirements of the locality ; and the consequence will be,, that when the present supply has gone into consumption, or been shipped away, the deficiency will have to bri made up by importing from elsewhere, at a probably higher price.’ ”

To the Editor cf the Wanganui Chronicle. Rangitikei, A\\x\[ 28, 1861. Siß,—l beg to call ybur'aftetftibu to the above notice of \\\e potatoe disease, and particularly to the following remarks, made from close obseivation thereon. Having paid much attention to the subject at home, from the time when it broke so destructively upon us, I trust

a timely cau'tionriiay ddmucli t,o prevent that mischief, once take bold of our produce'may never Re got rid of, a 3 experience proves in our mother country. . I have observed with regret signs of its presence in a latent form for the last three years, in produce grown both at this place and Wanganui. This year-it is increasingly diffused—, so much so, that Tam quite sure of‘its existence, though at-present to a very limited extent. Nor am-T alone in the conviction, as, having pointed it olit to others, who are equally judges in the matter with myself, and who, from those they have seen,- concur in the opinion, who, like myself, well Zr/iourthe fore front of so dangerous an enemy; from a long and too intimate acquaintance with him., I therefore venture a few remarks, not obtrusively, but with a view to place our friends on the *• iook-out/' believing that much may be done, with due care, to stave off the visit of so formidable a foe; more to be dreaded than the whirlwiintyor'the !,■■■■,:- As I expect bat comparatively few of-the settlers are aware of the “ beginning” of so diieful a disease,-I,will, by way of prognosis, point out a leading- characteristic or two, so that, by a wise attention, the mischief may be detected, by every .ordinary observer; and the means applied for its prevention ; as I do not tliiuk the evil presents itself all at once, but is progressive in its nature; though it may not have been thought- much of by many (for .want of closer observation), till it lias presented itself in so destructive a form that like alls other diseases ic can no longer be doubted. When taken out of the ground, a dark brown kind of rottenness is observable inpatches on the outside, generally about the crown :eye, but not always. It' is not a scab, but lias much the appearance of it. When touched with the nail, or.rubbed with the finger, it will be found to contain- a sem'--' a e y kind i f fluid ; when dry,.tfiere.,Js,.-4iO fluid .wider- the skin observable, but the color remains; and it is this kind of rottenness which, pervading the whole, more or less destroys the root. When it penetrates the potatoe, it will generally be found in ui equal- layeis of the same color, somewhat of a spongy nature, and rather softer than the body of the potato, though in some i.t goes quite through. . I had several a day or two ago, from' one root, so affected.’ This, after being taken up, spreads rapidly, and will without great care, in a few weeks do much damage to even the sou ml ones;

The instances X have hitherto met with are particularly noticeable in the -early sorts; and / believe the-injury to be greatly accelerated, if not generated, by two causes. -Ist, permitting them to remain • too long ground after they are sufficiently ripe ; and 2nd, want of proper caution, at the time of taking up, iii the selection of seed for the following season ; and it is to these itwo points that I wish now to draw particular/attention. - I • To prevent the mischief spreading, the seed should be selected carefully at the time < f taking up, when the soil is dry ; if possible; before the rains set in, as letting ?! them remain after the earth is wet is most certainly euleu lated to foster, the evil. Let any one try the experiment, as/ have done this year , it will be found, that although not dead ripe, if carefully selected and. dried, in the same way a. with other seeds, they will answer equally well; and it is. remarkable, that up to this period of it? growth, very few if any signs of disease appear; whereas, in those permitted to remain after .they are ripe, the evidences of injury: are very-plain. - When the skin is well set,: and will not easily rub off with the finger, the plant may be- safely laid by; and being quite dry when taken up, any traces of diseasein: the skin may be readily detected.

'To preserve the? ; seed properly, they should be laid in the sun for a few days, and w'heii dried so as not to sweat on being laid together, should be spread out as much as possible on a floor-—(bars laid across, or a floor with holes bored through,, is found to answer best at home) —with straw or fern in-the bottom, s*> that the air may penetrate,-.taking--care not to lay too many layers on each other, without placing something ; between them so as the\ may not touch each other. If thus covered, the cold will not hurt them, as the frosts here are innocent, and ; ..-.sweating will make them start— chit H --prematurely, /t will be found to be worth the trouble, as half, the seed will be sufficient and every plant will be secured ; whereas the indifferent method, if method it may be called, renders the effect doubtful, as much of the seed perishes,-having been carelessly selected and cut,, frequently taken from the refuse of the, crop, considering that any thing will do for> seed—thus depending for your future supply bn offal that should, be the portion of the pigs: : It is not so the wheat and other grain is treated ; if you wish to secure a good crop you carefully select your seed, and give a : "higher price for the most promising. Why -‘then should the poor potatoe meet with rude neglect, considering the great benefit it confers, and the important place it occupies in’-the list of cereals ? r As this is perhaps as much as you can afford room for at once, and. being anxious' (seeing the rains are setting in) to call attention to the subject as early as - possible* I shall conclude, promising fiirther remarks on a future day. I remain, sir, Your'obedient servant, - - ; J. F.

P.S.— Since' writing the above, I have seen the sad effects on-some I have taken, up since ithe heavy rairis' t Caitte;bm ; Though on, a dry and sandy soil'; wlnblf; acts like 1 a sieve, the progress towards the " substantive disease is very evident. And I airi more than ever convinced that much mischief will ensue if onr growers do not foresee the evil in time.

’ As I had no opportunity of growing any) potato js last year, I obtained my supply of seed from the natives, and I observed in them many instances of evident disease. I had also some from a settler who had been careful in the selection of his seed ; from these I have seen no symptom of mischief, but from those 1 had from the Maori I see much to complain of. Many of my neighbours were in the same fix, and obtained for seed such as had been laid by for the pig ; and this accounts for the presence of a greater amount of taint than would otherwise have occurred. I kuow of one person who last year had many tons destroyed through inattention . to. these things They were taken up late, and when the bulk was opened with a view to use 1 them they were one mass of dung.

Sir Robert Cotton is said to have discovered oiie of the original vellum copies of the Magna Charta in the shoo of a tailor, who, holdihgi it in ; hrs ; ]jand, : was-preparing up this charter, of the liberties of England into tape for measuring some of England’s .sons for coats and trousers. The missing manuscript of the history of .Scotland from the Reformation to 1651, which was written by Sir Geo. Mackenzie, the King’s advocate, was rescued from a mass of old paper that had been sold for shop purposes to a grocer in Edinburgh. Some fragments of the Privy Council Records of Scotland—now. preserved in the General Register House—were found among waste snuff paper. And occasionally even a very small preserved fragment of an ancient document lias proved of importance. Mr Roberstoh informs me that, in editing the old Canons of the Scotch Church, lie has derived considerable service from a single leaf of a contemporary record of the canons of the sixteenth century., which had been used and preserved in the old binding of a book.. This single-leaf is the only bit of inanuscr pt -of the Sc itch sixteenth century *c> canons that is known to exist, in Scotland. Sometimes important Scottish archaeological documents have escaped loss and destruction in a marvellous way. Among the great mass of interesting manuscripts pertaining to Scottish archaeology and history preserved in our General /Register Home there is one da'ed Arbroath, April 1320; and it perhaps forms the noblest .Scotch document of that era. . It is a letter of remonstrance addressed to Pope John XXII. by the barons, freeholders, and community of Scotland, in which these doughty Scotchmen declare that as long as 100 of them remained alive they would never submit to the dominion of England. This old and valuable document, written on a sheet of vellum, and adorned by the dependent seals of those who signed it,- was found by a lately-debased Scotch nobleman, in a most precarious situation, for a of his .had placed it in the fireplace .of :one of the rooms of his "mansion, amidst some coals arid wood ivhiclr she had laid in the grate ready for lighting. This precious declaration of Scotch independence, if not thus accidentally, discovered by its dangling seals protruding from the grate, would have vanished up the chimney, in the form of flame and smoke, the next time the fire was lit. —Professor J Y. Simpson on Archaeology. “ Alexander M‘Lachlan, beadle in the parish iof Blairgowrie, had contracted a habit of tippling, which though it did not wholly unfit him for his duties, had become a matter of con siderable scandal. The Rev. Mr Johnstone, -the incumbent, had resolved to reprove him on the first suitable opportunity. A meetings of the kirk-session was to be held on a week-daj at twelve o’clock. The minister and the beadle were in the session-house together before any of the elders had arrived. The beadle was flushed and excited, and the minister deemed the occ-S on peculia I; fitting for the administration of reproof. ‘ I much fear, Saunders, ’ began the minister, * that the bottle has become —’ ‘v/y, Sir, ’broke in the unperturbed official, ‘ I was just gaun'to observe that there was a smell o’ drink amang’s P ” . * How is it, John,’ said a,clergyman to his church-officer, ‘ that you never go a message tor me anywhere in the parish, but you contrive to take too much spirits? People don’t offer me spirits when I’m making visits in the parish.’ ‘ Weel, Sir,’ said John,‘l canna precisely explain it, unless on the supposition I’m a wee inair popular wi’ some o’ the folks.’” Rogers's Illustrations of Scottish Character.

Holloway's Pills are undeniably the best medicine for debilitated constitutions,disordered liver, bile and indigestion. The wonderfu efficacy, of this salutary medicine, and the good effect, produced on patients suffering', from the above co:n{daints ; appeanffdst fhcredible; if not confirmed by the daily proofs of the cures effected, by them, and the permanent benefit derived from their use. These invaluable Pills sooth and. strengthen the nervous, system purify the blood regulate the secretions, and invigorate the constitution. Disease flies before them. They are cmp sed ol vegetable extracts, unmixed with a grain of any mineral or noxious substance ; they may therefore be given with the utmost confidence and with perfect safety, to delicate females and young children. ' - 33;