Ho. 105.] 377 



Among nearly seventy answers to this query, I only find three that 

 ascribe any bad effect to the use of the diseased tubers. 



Mr. Lockhartj Stevenston Ayrshire says : " Only three ; but the 

 cause may have been from over quantity as much as bad quality." 



Mr. Mc Gregor, Dicmbartonshire. " There have been cases in which 

 they have been injurious to animal life, in the neighborhood." 



Mr. Dalziel, Dumfriesshire. " Two horses and two pigs, whose 

 death is attributed to eating diseased potatoes." 



These are the only instances ; opposed to them are a very great 

 number which go to show that the diseased potatoes may be used for 

 food with perfect safety, 



Mr. Laurie, Dumfriesshire says : " I have been giving them by way 

 of experiment, in the raw state, but clean washed, to a young quey that 

 I am feeding. She gets as many as she will take, without any thing 

 else but straw ; and as yet there is no appearance of injurious effects 

 to health. 



Mr. Mc Knight, Barlochan. " My horses and pigs have been fed with 

 the most diseased, after having been boiled and mixed with chaff and 

 meal. 



Mr. Gardiner. *' I have reason to believe that their use as food for 

 cattle and pigs does not produce disease in them if due care is taken 

 as to how they are given. I am induced to this belief from having fed 

 a number of pigs upon diseased tubers since the middle of September. 

 They are now in perfect health and thriving well. Six West Highland 

 bullocks, taken from the pasture and put into a shed, have been fed 

 for the last two weeks upon very much diseased potatoes and oat straw 

 alone, and they are still healthy and keeping up in condition. They 

 ate so fond of the potatoes that they take them in preference to tur- 

 nips." 



Mr. Findlay, Larnarkshire. " All of us are giving our milch cows half 

 a peck of those potatoes, raw and sliced, with seeds or chaff mixed, 

 daily, and they thrive upon them." 



Mr. Girdwood, Mid-Lothian. " My horses eat forty pounds each, 

 daily (steamed) and my pigs eat as many as they please raw. They 

 are all healthy and thriving. I have not given any to cattle yet, but 

 those who have done so have no bad effects." 



