144 



The account of the Society has also been at times pretty largely over- 

 drawn at the Peninsular Bank, during the year. Previous to the Fair, 

 the account was overdraAvn all the time, reaching to about $1,200 or 

 $1,400. For this the bank presents a balance of interest account of 

 $70. 



We recommend that the claim be allowed and paid. 

 It will be perceived by the above that the income of the Society for 

 the past year has been sufficient to pay off the debt with which the 

 year was commenced, to defray all the current expenditures, and may, 

 perhaps, leave a small balance to the credit of the Society, to begin an- 

 other year with. 



All of which is respectfully submitted. 



GEO. V. N. LOTHROP, 

 S. M. BARTLETT, 

 CHARLES DICKEY, 



Committee. 



Detroit, Dec. 15th, 1853. 



AN ESSAY ON THE COMMON POTATO: ITS CULTURE, 

 DISEASE AND REMEDIES. 



BY N. DAVIDSON EEDPATH, OP FOGG, ALLEGAN CO., MICH. 



The potato, pomme de terre, of the French, was originally a native 

 of Chili, South America, from whence it was introduced into Europe 

 by the Spaniards, towards the conclusion of the sixteenth century. 



It was unknown in the British Islands until the year 1584, when it 

 was brought over from Virginia by Sir Walter Raleigh, and from a few 

 roots cultivated in his garden at Youghal, in Ireland, it is generally sup- 

 posed all the potatoes in the United Kingdoms have sprung. In all 

 probability the New England States derived their supply from Ireland 

 also; hence the common, though unappropriate name, Irish potatoes, 

 as applied in the United States to the common variety of this invalua- 

 ble root. 



Its progress in public favor was at first remarkably slow ; its cultiva- 

 tion being confined chiefly to the gardens of the opulent, where it was 

 reared rather as an article of curiosity than of utility, and nearly 



