Report on the Cultivation of Potatoes. 485 



earlies.' The setts are all pliinted whole ; round sorts 2^ inches diameter, 

 kidney sorts 3 inches long. Well-rotted horse-manure is used and deeply 

 dug in in the autumn, and planted with the dipper in the end of March, 

 dropping some sea-sand over the seed to prevent slu'>;s eating it. Three- 

 quarters of an acre is generally planted in this way, always following carrot- 

 crops. 



" Here it is considered that there is no cure, but that the disease is cliraatal, 

 much after the principle of Europeans on African soil ; and that, as the 

 climate can be but little changed, neither the constitution of the potato, sani- 

 tary laws, so to speak, must be rigidly studied and observed, as preventive 

 measures to reduce the disease to the lowest minimum. 



" Here the selection of the freest and driest soils, with the most open situa- 

 tion, early planting and earl}^ raising, cool, dry, and airy storage, change of 

 seed from distant localities, and the thorough working of the soil in dry 

 iveather, are the best preventive measures, which not only enhance the crops, 

 but reduce the disease to a minimum." 



III. — West Midland Counties. 



Under this heading I have grouped two replies from Warwick- 

 shire, one from Gloucestershire, one from Staffordshire, and a 

 very remarkable one from Worcestershire. With the exception 

 of the last, they do not contain much additional information. 

 Mr. J. Brawn, of Sandhills, Walsall, who has grown " the White 

 Rock, Paterson's Victoria, Fluke, Farmer's Blue, Early Rose, Red- 

 skin Flour Ball and other varieties " of potato, states that the 

 variety least liable to disease is " unquestionably the Red-skin 

 Flour Ball ; and so thoroughly am I convinced of its superiority 

 over all the other kinds I have tried, that I have this season 

 planted my whole 70 acres with this variety." Mr. Brawn also 

 states : — 



" I have for many years observed that the effectual earthing up of potatoes 

 is of the utmost importance as a preventive of disease ; this I attribute to 

 the more perfect drainage and protection to the tubers from heavy rains." 



Both the Warwickshire growers insist on the benefit to be 

 derived from the use of ashes. Thus Mr. T. Wilson, of Manor 

 Farm, Wroxhall, replies : — 



" The best result I have found is by using a good-sized potato for seed 



and using burnt earth or any kind of burnt ashes The ashes appear to 



absorb the water and keep the potato dry." 



Mr. W. Hutton, of Compton Verney, Warwick, says : — 



" Plant as early as possible, on a well-drained soil ; never put on farmyard 

 manure in the spring or planting-time, and let it be well rotten when applied 

 in the autumn ; where burnt ashes can be had, use them freely." 



The Worcestershire report is printed at length on pp. 504-506, 

 {preceding the important report from Lancashire already men- 

 tioned. 



