No. 105.] 373 



Query 22. — It is said that the rot spreads faster after the potatoes 

 are put together in heaps or pits, than when left in the soil, and late 

 digging, or leaving them in the ground all winter, is therefore recom- 

 mended. What practice would your experience lead you to adopt ? 

 Does leaving them in the ground, in your opinion, make them longer 

 in sprouting when planted the following year 1 



The verdict of the majority is clearly that the potatoes should be 

 lifted. Many farmers, on the contrary, say they should be left in the 

 ground, and instance cases of their rotting with great rapidity when 

 taken up and pitted, but upon this point Mr. Dalziel, Dumfriesshire, 

 says, "It is true that the rot spreads faster among potatoes put in 

 heaps or pits, than in those left in the soil ; but it is also true that it 

 spreads faster in the soil than among those that are well dried. 



Mr. Pagan, Dumfriesshire. " On account of bad weather the ta- 

 king up of the crop was stopped about a week, and there were at least 

 three aifected for every one which was at the time of stopping." 



Mr. Cairdj Wigtonshire. " The potatoes may be expected to ro 

 if put wet into a pit, but they would do so also if left in clay land." 



Mr. Burritt of Gadgirth.. " When the disease has shown itself in 

 the crop, the sooner they are raised and dried the better. Had I lift- 

 ed my whole crop in August or September, (as I did a part which 

 were perfectly sound,) and had I then stored them in a dry state, I do 

 not think I would have had a diseased potato. I consider, however, 

 that the longer in the ground, and therefore the riper the seed the 

 more sure and ready to sprout." 



Mr. Lockhart, .Ayrshire. " My opinion is that leaving them in 

 the ground is advantageous for sprouting in spring." 



Mr. Gardiner. " Under certain circumstances, I believe the tubers 

 will decay and rot quicker in the pits than in the drills. As, how- 

 ever, the disease began in the drills, and has increased in them, we have 

 no guarantee from by-past experience that it will not continue to go 

 on, and that by leaving them in the soil in the position they have 

 grown in, we shall alleviate the disease." 



These remarks of Mr. Gardiner's, I think very judicious ; it cer- 

 tainly seems contrary to common sense and a most dangerous experi- 

 ment to leave the potatoes in the very place where they have become dis- 

 eased in the hope that they will there improve. 



