122 ON THE MANAGEMENT OF GRASS LANDS IN ENGLAND. 



Oxford and other strong clays be wrought upon the alternate 

 system of grass and corn, they "would yield more profitable 

 returns both to the occupier, and owner ; but some scheme is 

 yet wanted to modify and change their natural character. The 

 mixture of seeds used in laying down arable land are a selection 

 of the best indiuenous and native grasses, and their number and 

 variety, when they are fairly thickened, impart a beautiful 

 verdure to the pastures throughout the grazing months that is 

 very serviceable. The different sorts possess a natural grov.'th 

 at different periods as summer advances ; and it is a question 

 worthy of the consideration of the farmers north of the Tweed, 

 whether they might not introduce a greater number and variety 

 of seeds than they usually do when putting their fields down to 

 pasture. 



ON THE CULTIVATION OF THE POTATO. 

 By Mrs Patersox, now Eoger, Potato Merchant, 38 Union Street, Dundee. 



[Premium — Five Sovereigns.] 



What method of cultivation ouglit to be adopted in order suc- 

 cessfully to prevent a total failure of the potato croj), and to 

 produce a vigorous habit and constitution to resist the attacks of 

 disease to which the old varieties have been so long subjected, is 

 a question of vital importance to our country and to the world, 

 the jDotato being a necessary auxiliary of food, and consequently 

 the cultivation of it a great commercial enterprise. Tliis question, 

 for many years past, has attracted the earnest attention of the 

 statesman, the philosopher, the economist, and the man of science, 

 and now that disease again threatens this palladium against 

 famine (when this phrase was first used, I question much if it 

 was thought the object of the eulogy should itself be the cause 

 of famine and consternation), it must be obvious that great 

 necessity exists in agriculturists devoting their utmost thought, 

 care, and attention to the culture of new varieties of potato. 



Potato disease is the result of degeneration and decay, caused 

 by repeated propagation from the old varieties. As a natural 

 consequence the plant must, and will wear out. It becomes 

 w^eak in constitution, worthless as a cropper, and subject to many 

 forms of disease from the vicissitudes of climate or atmospheric 

 action, not only after it has developed its stems, but before the 

 germ has risen out of the ground. 



From the experience I have had of potato raising and potato 

 culture, my conviction is there is no remedial cure for the disease, 

 it being inherent in the plant, caused partly by atmospheric 

 action, the plant having the seeds of disease within itself ready 

 to be developed under favourable circumstances, and that the 

 present stock will be more or less subject to it. 



