No. 105.] 363 



an influence in causing the present disease, as being contrary to the 

 dictates of nature, that they should remain in the ground from year to 

 year." 



Whether this had any influence in causing the disease or not, it is 

 quite clear that unripe potatoes are also to be placed among the un- 

 successful preventives. 



Query 12. — Has the previous draining of the land any efl"ect in 

 preventing the disease? 



This query has already been partly answered under numbers one 

 and two. The answers directly to the point of drainage, go to show 

 that it cannot be relied on as a preventive j though in some cases it 

 seems to have modified the disease. 



Mr. Drummond^ West Bank, Dundee, says, " I see the potatoes 

 on drained clay, freer from disease than on dry loam." 



Mr. Fleming of Barochan. " Draining has so far had the effect 

 of rendering the disease less virulent, as is the case on all dry land." 



Mr. Goodlet, Haddington, on the other hand, "had potatoes in a 

 field, one part of which was drained and the other not ; both parts 

 were affected alike." 



Mr. Smith, Ladyland, Dumfriesshire, says, " that draining pre- 

 vented the ordinary rot, but not this disease." 



Mr. Kennedy, Stranraer, Wigton, mentioned. "I have even heard 

 of the crop being most diseased in the drill which happened to be on 

 the top of the drain." 



Mr. Elliot, Hardgrove, makes a similar statement, and explains it 

 on the supposition that the potatoes ripen sooner in that drill. 



Query 13. — Has the kind of manure applied any influence on the 

 appearance or fatality of the disease ? 



No less than forty-three answers declare that the kind of manure 

 has made no difference. Many think that all manure has done harm, 

 as the crop has failed worst on the richest soils. 



In previous years, it has been thought by some, that the potatoes 

 grown with guano, made better seed than any others. 



Mr. Kennedy, Stranraer, Wigton, says, " I have tried dung and 

 and guano together, and each by itself, this season. Dung and 

 guano give the worst, while guano by itself the least diseased croyi." 



