t 98 ] 



is reafbn to think the difeafe proceeds in all cafes 

 from the feeds planted, and as the infection muft 

 certainly be lefs virulent in the plants that have been 

 leaft previoufly infected with it than others, and as 

 no large potatoes are produced by plants which are 

 ftrongly affected by this difeafe, thefe ought furely 

 to be chofcn for plants in preference to others. 

 This I know, that I never yet have obferved a 

 curled potatoe among thofe I have obtained from 

 large potatoes planted whole. 



Should it be found that this diforder, like the 

 fmall-pox or meafles among mankind, can be com- 

 municated by juxta pofition only; in that cafe it 

 would be prudent to felect the large bulbs at the 

 time of taking them out of the ground, putting 

 them all in one heap then, without ever letting them 

 touch the fmall, and thus keep them entirely fepa- 

 rate. By thefe cautions, accompanied with roguing 

 the potatoes as foon as they are fairly above ground, 

 (that is, pulling out all thofe that fhewed the fmall- 

 eft fymptom of this difeafe) it feems to me pro- 

 bable it might be in a great meafure, if not en- 

 tirely, avoided* 



Some think the difeafe is produced by allowing 

 the potatoes to be a little touched by froft during 

 the winter. Certain it is, that a potatoe never can 



be 



