[ 93 ] 



From this fingle fact, feveral corollaries are dedu- 

 cible, which entirely overturn fome theories that 

 have been formed to account for this difeafe. It 

 has been fuppofed, that nature, fated as it were by 

 having long produced this plant in a climate that 

 was not deemed congenial to it, had become fo far 

 exhaufted, as to occafion this difeafe. But if fo, 

 the more Northern parte of this ifland, where the 

 climate is the mod unfavourable, fhould have been 

 fboneft afTc&ed by it. It has been further fuppofed, 

 that potatoes that are froft-bitten, (the bulbs are 

 here meant) before they are properly houfed, oc- 

 cafion this difeafe in the plants produced from 

 them ; but the curl is lead known in thofe diftricls 

 where the potatoes are mofl liable to this accident. 

 It has been faid, that potatoes which are taken up 

 before they attained perfect maturity, infallibly be- 

 came affected with this difeafe : but in fome cold 

 mofly foils, and expofed fituations, where the pota- 

 toes muft often be taken up while they are yet in a 

 (late of vigorous vegetation, this difeafe is fcarcely 

 known. It will not be imagined I mean to infi- 

 nuate that fuch fituations would preferve from the 

 difeafe, when once introduced in other places aroundi 

 for that, without doubt, is not the cafe. 



It has been further alledged, that fuch plants as 

 have been lately obtained from feeds, properly fo 



called, 



