238 



Provinces of Groningen and North Brabant. The disease commenced 

 at the uppermost part of the plant, and attacked successively the leaf, 

 the stem, and the tuber. This is fully established by experiments made 

 at Groningen. 



The Commission does not agree with those naturalists who think 

 that the origin of the disease may be attributed to the race of potatoes 

 having gradually deteriorated, as in the Commune of Marum and Prov- 

 ince of Groningen, among other instances, is to be seen a field of pota- 

 toes, the produce of seed raised from the apple or berry, equally/ attack- 

 ed, and suffering in common with the general crop. This and an infi- 

 nite number of similar cases, prove incontestibly that the disease does 

 not originate in the seed. This is the best and most reliable evidence 

 that Holland can afTord. 



Well, after four years had elapsed and millions of experiments had 

 been tried, we find in 1849, the Royal Agricultural Society of Eng- 

 land, receiving the following report from Mr. Bosanquet, of Hereford- 

 shire, to whom they had given seeds of the potato-apple, or berry, 

 which had been imported from Chili, in South America. Mr. Bosan- 

 quet states as follows: "I sowed the seeds in pots in my vinery, and 

 afterwards removed them to the open air. About the middle of July 

 the disease made its appearance in my garden. The Chilian potatoes 

 were more afiected than the common varieties, their leaves were soon 

 destroyed. I consider this circumstance as presumptive evidence that 

 tha disease does not commence in the potato itself, but is purely atmos- 

 pheric, and is more prevalent when the atmosphere is strongly charged 

 with electricity, and when there is a fall in temperature, accompanied 

 with much wet. The disease certainly commences in the leaves, and 

 extends gradually to the stems and tubers, in the same manner as mor- 

 tification extends in the human frame irom diseased parts to sound 

 ones." Such is the evidence elicited by that renowned Association, 

 the Royal Agricultural Society of England, and it may be received as 

 the opinion of the most distinguished agriculturists in England. 



We will now hear what America has to say on this important sub- 

 ject, and as Minnesota is a recently settled territory, where the soil is rich 

 and new, and unexhausted, it must be suitable to the growth of the 

 potato. We will permit a farmer from that region to make a statement 

 of facts. 



