No. 105.] 353 



own experience, or from the results of the various investigations which 

 I have previously noticed. 



Query 1. — To what extent has the potato disease appeared in your 

 district, or county, during the present year 1 Is the general crop large, 

 and how much of it do you think is affected 1 



The answers to this question show that the crop throughout the coun- 

 try is about an average one. In some districts it is much larger than 

 usual, and in others considerably less. The disease has prevailed both 

 among good and bad crops. 



In the counties south of Aberdeen, nearly every field seems to be 

 more or less attacked. The proportion of the infected tubers varies in 

 every district. 



In Lanarkshire, Mr. Findlay says, "I fear every potato is more or 

 less affected." 



In Mid-Lothian, Mr. Girdwood considers the proportion of potatos 

 diseased, to be fully 80 per cent. I had an opportunity of inspecting his 

 heaps a few days since, and was astonished at the fearful progress 

 which infection is making among them, The stench arising from the 

 sheds, where several thousand bushels were stored, was almost insup- 

 portable. On the farm of a neighbor, it was still worse ; the cover- 

 ings of the pits had actually fallen in from the progress of decomposi- 

 tion. I have also visited a large farm in Northumberland, where the 

 tenant assured me there was not one sound potato in a thousand. I 

 was not able to find even one in his heaps. These are extreme cases, 

 but unfortunately are not unfrequent. 



In some parts of Kirkcudbrightshire, Forfarshire and Aberdeenshire, 

 the proportion affected is given in some cases as low as one-tenth. By 

 far the greater number of answers estimate the quantity from one-fifth, 

 to one-half and three-quarters. Many say, however, that a definite 

 answer upon this point is almost impossible, for the disease is continu- 

 ally increasing. Those now in their pits, which they consider sound, 

 may all be affected in a few days : some think they will not be able to 

 save enough for seed. 



There is one part of Scotland, that as yet seems nearly or quite 

 free from this disease. This lies to the north of Aberdeen. From 

 Fochabers, in the northwest part of Aberdeenshire, Mr. Balmer, 



