366 [Senate 



Mr. Girdtvood, Mid-Lothian. " The best crops seem generally to 

 be most diseased." 



Query 16. — Does nearness to the sea, or the use of sea weed? 

 make any difference f 



This query was put, because many farmers have thought in form- 

 er years, that they had discovered a cure for the disease in certain 

 saline manures. 



In accordance with this view, it has been supposed that farms ly- 

 ing near the sea, within the reach of its spray, and therefore abound- 

 ing with saline substances were less affected. For the same reason, 

 those manured with sea weed should be less attacked. I w 11 quote 

 first the only favorable answer I have been able to find, and then a 

 few of the others. 



It is from Mr. JVewton, Cupar Angus ^ Forfarshire. "I am inclined 

 to think that nearness to the sea is of a little benefit, from an impres- 

 sion that I have not heard so much of the disease in coast farms." 



On the other hand, Mr. Boazie, Alloa^ says, ^' We had Mr. Crom- 

 bie, of Kilminning, (the second eastmost farmer in Fife,) here at the 

 time of the October tryst. His potato crops, which had been splen- 

 did until just shortly before that time, had all got wrong, and you 

 know his land is as near to the sea as any body's can be." 



Mr. Girdwoodj Corstorphine, Mid-Lothian. " One of the worst 

 cases I knov/ is a farm bounded by the sea." 



Mr. Kennedy, Stranrcer, Wigtonshire. This parish (Kirkcolm) is 

 the point of a peninsula, and no part of it is far from the sea ; not- 

 withstanding which I think the disease is worse here than in some 

 of the inland parishes." 



Mr. Clarke.) Eriboll, Sutherlandshire^ speaks of potatoes planted 

 on moss by the sea side, and manured with sea weed, which are al- 

 ways infected with dry rot immediately after lifting. They can nev- 

 er be used for seed. 



There can be no doubt that saline manures have, in former years, 

 been used with admirable effect in the cultivation of the potato crop; 

 judging from the above, however, they exercise little influence over 

 the prevailing disease of the present season. Decidedly the worst 

 instance I have seen, was on a farm bounded by the sea. The tops 



