18701882] POTATO-DISEASE 373 



Down, Monday, March 4th, 1878. 



I have nothing good to report. Mr. Caird called upon Letter 284 

 me yesterday ; both he and Mr. Farrer l have been most 

 energetic and obliging. There is no use in thinking about 

 the Agricultural Society. Mr. Caird has seen several 

 persons on the subject, especially Mr. Carruthers, Botanist 

 to the Society. He (Mr. Carruthers) thinks the attempt 

 hopeless, but advances in a long memorandum sent to 

 Mr. Caird, reasons which I am convinced are not sound. 

 He specifies two points, however, which are well worthy 

 of your consideration namely, that a variety should be 

 tested three years before its soundness can be trusted ; and 

 especially it should be grown under a damp climate. Mr. 

 Carruthers' opinion on this head is valuable because he 

 was employed by the Society in judging the varieties sent 

 in for the prize offered a year or two ago. If I had strength 

 to get up a memorial to Government, I believe that I 

 could succeed ; for Sir J. Hooker writes that he believes 

 you are on the right path ; but I do not know to whom 

 else to apply whose judgment would have weight with 

 Government, and I really have not strength to discuss the 

 matter and convert persons. 



At Mr. Farrer's request, when we hoped the Agricultural 

 Society might undertake it, I wrote to him a long letter 

 giving him my opinion on the subject ; and this letter 

 Mr. Caird took with him yesterday, and will consider 

 with Mr. Farrer whether any application can be made 

 to Government. 



I am, however, far from sanguine. I shall see Mr. Farrer 

 this evening, and will do what I can. When I receive 

 back my letter I will send it to you for your perusal. 



After much reflection it seems to me that your best 

 plan will be, if we fail to get Government aid, to go on 

 during the present year, on a reduced scale, in raising 

 new cross-fertilised varieties, and next year, if you are able, 

 testing the power of endurance of only the most promising 

 kind. If it were possible it would be very advisable for 

 you to get some grown on the wet western side of Ireland. 

 If you succeed in procuring a fungus-proof variety you 



1 The late Lord Farrer. 



