504 Report on the Cultivation of Potatoes. 



of lime to the foliage check the progress of the disease. One 

 grower, who is very sensitive in reference to being thought an 

 authority and to being laughed at in consequence, considers that 

 a great deal of his comparative success is due to his getting a 

 change of seed from mossy land to his clay-soils. Another 

 grower considers " pointed potatoes " very objectionable. Two 

 of the growers express their belief that too large a quantity of 

 manure applied to the potato-crop favours the progress of the 

 disease, while a third expresses his incredulity on this point, 

 which he states to be a prevailing opinion. As to early or late 

 harvesting, the replies are too indefinite to be classified. The 

 preponderance of opinion appears to be in favour of harvesting 

 as soon as possible after the potatoes are ripe, but one grower 

 emphatically remarks, " Potatoes that will not keep in the 

 ground, won't keep out of the ground," 



Remakks on the Prevention of the Potato-disease. 



In addition to the replies summarised in the preceding pageSy 

 two others have been received from growers who do not appear 

 to have suffered any material loss in consequence of the potato- 

 disease. The first of these is from Mr. James Myatt, of Offenham, 

 Evesham, who is well known as the introducer of " Myatt's Pro- 

 lific " potatoes, and many other esteemed sorts of vegetables as 

 well as of fruits. He usually takes potatoes after savoys or 

 broccoli, though sometimes after wheat ; in which case the stubble 

 is generally burned. The second reply is from Mr. Knowles, of 

 East Plain, Cark-in-Cartmel, Lancashire, who takes potatoes after 

 turnips. The results obtained by these gentlemen are so remark- 

 able that I have thought it best to give their replies in extenso ; the 

 numbers prefixed to them refer to the questions printed on p. 475. 



The following are Mr. Myatt's replies : — 



" 1. Open. 



" 2. Hedge-row ; timber, partial. 



•' 3. Mostly level, with south aspect. 



" 4. Variable ; part gravelly and sandy loam, with gravelly subsoil inclined 

 to red, and part a strong dark loam, apparently washed down from the hills 

 which surround it. 



" 5. Partially ; at a depth of about 3 feet, about 30 feet apart. 



" 6. Not uniform: garden crops alternated with farming. 



*' 7. From 10 to 15 acres, at intervals of not less than 5 years to 10. 



" 8. If after broccoli or savoys, which has been my usual practice for a part, 

 no preparation necessary previous to getting on the manure, which I get on in 

 autumn, say before Christmas. If after wheat or other corn-crops, I have the 

 land scuffled or broad-shared, then harrowed well with heavy drag-rollers or 

 iron harrows to bring the stubble to the top, and, if much, burn the longest 

 of it, and then leave it ready to get the manure on in the autumn. 



