204 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



It would be wise, therefore, to institute a course of experi- 

 ments under this head ; planting potatoes after each of the 

 most important articles of cultivation, and repeating them until 

 we have obtained satisfactory evidence of their effects. It is 

 important also to learn the effects, in detail, of planting pota- 

 toes year after year in the same field. 



IX. Meteorological influences are mostly beyond our con- 

 trol. But, though an extensive crop could not be sheltered — 

 if by sheltering a small part of a crop from cold rains, heavy 

 dews and late summer frosts, we found that the soundness of 

 the tuber was preserved, — this sort of shelter might be used in 

 future just to the extent required to secure a few potatoes for 

 seed. Experiments under this head should be instituted for 

 their theoretical, rather than their practical value. If the 

 malady have a meteorological origin, it would be important to 

 ascertain the fact, even though the remedy should be beyond 

 our reach. Such a discovery would at least put an end to 

 fruitless investigations to find out other causes. 



There is one branch of experiments under this head that 

 might be practically useful. I allude to such as have reference 

 to the advantages that might accrue from that sort of protec- 

 tion which is afforded by a wood, surrounding the field on all 

 sides, or merely bounding it on one, two or three sides. The 

 different effects proceeding from the shelter of evergreen and 

 of deciduous woods should also be compared. If the disease 

 have a meteorological cause, it is possible that a dense and 

 lofty wood might possess the power of averting this influence, 

 in some degree, from a small tract, surrounded by it, or in 

 close proximity to it. 



Lastly, it would be expedient to devote some time to experi- 

 menting upon the value of different nostrums, proposed, and 

 likely hereafter to be proposed by their respective authors. 

 The most of these, however, would probably come under one 

 or the other of the preceding heads. 



Here then is a series of nine different classes of experiments, 

 each including a large number of individual experiments. A 

 great many that are new and valuable would probably be sug- 

 gested by the experience of one who should be employed in 

 reducing them to trial. Such an undertaking could not fail to 

 develop information sufficiently new, both in its details and in 



