142 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



It would, therefore, ])e out of place for one less versed in the sub- 

 ject to attempt to throw any further light on it from a scientillc stand- 

 point. 



But in studying this matter with a view of ascertaining what methods 

 had been attempted by farmers for the prevention of the disease, and 

 what methods, if any, were successful, I oame upon the following 

 extracts from a report of John Fr3'er in the Journal of the Royal 

 Agricultural Society for 1874. He says : "On looking back for ueaA'l^' 

 thirty years over memoranda respecting the treatment of the potato 

 crop with special reference to the disease, I find onl}' one set of experi- 

 ments that have to any extent lessened the amount of loss. These 

 experiments have all been based on the fact that covering up the 

 haulm to within a few inches of the end greatly hinders the progress 

 of the blight ; and ultimatel}' it was found that the nearer a horizontal 

 position the haulm was placed in, the greater was the immunity' from 

 disease. 



*'The first occasion on which the experiment was tried was two or 

 three years after the appearance of the disease, when a large field 

 was operated upon, the haulms being deeply molded up on one side 

 onlv ; and the flattening down of the earth upon them was completed 

 b}' hand lal)or. In that season this field remained green and growing 

 up to Michaelmas, nearly every other field in the kingdom having 

 been blighted in the latter part of August. 



"The plan was continued for a time, until the disease all but dis- 

 appeared, when it was given up. Three years ago a trial of it was 

 again made. A small portion of a field was laid down and the result 

 was so satisfactory that last year nearly fifty acres were operated 

 upon ; and with great advantage as will be shown by a detailed stat- 

 ment of results at the end of this paper. 



"Careful observation brought to notice one important fact, viz: 

 That those rows yielded the most and finest tubers, which were laid 

 down toward the east, thus allowing the sloping side of the ridge to 

 be exposed to the afternoon and evening sun. 



"The theory as to the causes of the benefit secured I leave to 

 others to suggest. Whether it be that the descending spores of the 

 fungus which produces the disease drop from the flattened stalks on 

 the earth instead of descending to the root, and thus lose their power 

 to do mischief, or whether laying down checks for a time the too rapid 

 and succulent growth of the top and thus prevents a weak growth of 



