362 [Senate 



and in some cases with more, virulence than the older varieties, not 

 one of the above seedlings being free from this disease." 



I might multiply instances, but the above seem quite sufficient. I 

 may mention, however, that I was lately upon a farm in Northumber- 

 land, where a large number of seedlings have been raised, and did 

 not see a sound potato among them. 



As to the potato apples, it appears that the cups and other coarse 

 kinds which bear no apples, are in general less affected, though they 

 are no where exempt, and in some places worst of all. 



Query 10. — ^Have potatoes planted whole, showed any difference 

 in the extent of failures'? 



Of forty-three answ^ers to this query, I find but four or five in which 

 any superiority is ascribed to the whole potato ; these only give it a 

 comparative superiority, and say that the potatoes grown from whole 

 seed are less affected than those grown from cut seed. 



Mr. Kennedy, Stranraer, Wigtonshire, says, " Potatoes planted 

 whole are less liable to fail in the growth than cut ones ; but the 

 produce is equally unsound this season. 



Mr. Gardiner: "Potatoes planted whole are as liable to be at- 

 tacked by this disease as those that are cut. Both descriptions planted 

 in the same field, and under the same circumstances, are found to be 

 equally tainted with this disease." 



Mr. Elliot, Hardgrove. " If any difference, those planted whole 

 showed the disease first, and are a shade worse." 



No confidence, therefore, can be placed upon whole seed as a pre- 

 ventive to this disease. 



Query 11. — Has the degree of ripeness of the seed potatoes planted 

 by you, had any effect in preventing the disease ? 



There are very few answers to this question. I know that for 

 several years past, it has been a common practice to choose unripe 

 tubers for seed, and this has been highly recommended. They are 

 all equally affected this year, according to the few answers that speak 

 to this point. 



Mr. Burnett, of Gadgirth, Ayrshire, says, "For some years back, 

 the potato crop has been generally taken up in an unripe state, and 

 unripe seed has been sought after to plant. May this not have had 



