354 [Senate 



writes, "I have neither seen nor heard of disease in this part of the 

 country." 



From Morayshire and Elgin are answers of a similar character. 



I have lately received a letter from Mr. Simpson, in Rosshire, who 

 says, " we have luckily escaped almost from the potato disease in this 

 quarter." 



In Sutherlandshire and Caithness, " nothing of the disease preva- 

 lent in other parts of the country has appeared." 



I shall, in giving results under the other queries, again refer to this 

 remarkable exemption. 



Prof. Johnston and Mr. Fleming, in a recently published paper, 

 consider that taking all the counties of Scotland, the proportion at 

 present affected is a little less than one-third of the whole crop. 



Query 2. Is the disease more extensive during the present than 

 during past years 1 



Query 3. How many years is it since it first began to be noticed 

 among you] 



The answers to these two queries, I shall unite. Out af fifty-seven 

 persons, who return answers, forty-eight say that the disease is 

 much more extensive than during any former year ; three say that it 

 has been with them equally or more extensive before ; and six others 

 have escaped the visitation entirely. 



About thirty consider the disease decidedly a new one, others are 

 doubtful, and fifteen mention various periods as marking its appear- 

 ance with them, or in their neighborhoods. The number of years 

 named varies from two to fifteen. Some of these gentlemen, how- 

 ever, seem doubtful if it is proper to say they have experienced 

 exactly the same disease for so many years, and therefore speak cau- 

 tiously. The answers themselves show in many instances that if not 

 a new disease, it is at least a new form of the old one. 



Mr. Drummond, near Dundee, has had "failures at brairding since 

 1833, and has seen dry rot at one farm, for three years past." 



Mr. Gillespie, Annan Bank, Dumfriesshire, " has experienced a 

 very considerable rot after storing, for the last two years." 



Mr. McKnight, Barlochan, Kirkcudbrightshire, " has seen occa- 

 sional instances of dry rot, since the year 1832." 



