The Potato. 67 



the edgfes. The leaves on the trees in the band were shrivelled 

 and blackened, but firmly adherent; and, although I did not notice 

 it then, I have since found it to be the fact that numbers of the 

 young long shoots were strangely contorted. The grass in the 

 orchard was very high. 



A friend and my tenant, who were with me, saw these well- 

 defined appearances as clearly as I did. On asking the latter 

 what he supposed '•'■ tJie cause?" he said that he supposed it was 

 *•'• liqiitningr There had been in fact a violent- gale from the 

 south-west four or five days before, accompanied with much 

 rain. The leaves on the blackthorn {Prunus spinosa) in the 

 hedge-rows were shrivelled quite as badly as the apple leaves. 

 The potatoes in the nursery plot, at the southern end of the 

 orchard, were much discoloured imthin tlie line of the hand, hut 

 not at all heyond it. We traced this black band of shrivelled 

 leaves on to the next orchard ; to another, a quarter of a mile 

 away, to another half a mile off; to Torbrian, a mile and a half; 

 subsequently to Fisliacre ; to Mr. Charles Bowden's orchards at 

 Staverton, which were dreadfully cut up ; to Velwell, in Rattery ; 

 about eight miles south-west across the river Dart, from where 

 I had first observed it; subsequently to Abl)otskerswell ; across 

 the navigable part of tlie river Teign, here of considerable width, 

 to the higher portion of Bishopsteignton, making a total of 

 fourteen or fifteen miles from point to point in a straight line. 

 It was noticed throughout how distinct the confines of this 

 band appeared ; the band was considerably broader at the south- 

 western than at the north-eastern extremity of the line sur- 

 veyed, and every field of potatoes tvitliiii the line was much 

 shrivelled and cut. This was more especially noticed in Abbots- 

 kerswell, where, the line passing through a field, the potatoes within 

 the line were much hurt, but those without the line at that moment 

 appeared unaffected. 



In about a fortnight or three weeks the disease was almost 

 universal ; the leaves universally blackened and shrivelled ; the 

 smell foetid and very offensive. By the middle of August the 

 alarm was general, and most persons set to work taking up the 

 tubers ; this operation was conducted with great care, every 

 man having two baskets, so that the healthy tubers were separated 

 from the diseased or doubtful as soon as they were exhumed. 

 But shortly another and more fearful cause of alarm was felt, for 

 the cause of disease — whatever that cause might be — appeared 

 to concentrate its energies, and attack the exhumed tuber with 

 increased virulence. 



The only satisfactory way of endeavouring to cure any disease 

 is to ascertain the cause ; and, if its method of propagation can be 

 discovered, to try and arrest that propagation. 



F 2 



