80 The Potato. 



the disease, and as they rarely manifest their real qualities 

 until the end of the third season from sowing, and require much 

 care and attention, the culture of potato seedlings has for the 

 last two or three years sensibly declined in public estimation. 



In conclusien I feel bound to say that I am not in any way 

 wedded or bound to any one opinion. I am an inquirer in the 

 strictest sense of the term ; but when it is considered that I 

 ^rew last year (185G) and the year before rather more than 

 70 bags of potatoes in each year (of 7 scores each), and that 

 in the two years I had not a sackful of diseased potatoes, I hope 

 that I shall not be deemed intrusive in soliciting the attention 

 of the Royal Agricultural Society to these facts, and trust that 

 under their auspices many will be induced to repeat my experi- 

 ments with equally favourable results. 



Early in July, 1857, it became necessary for nie to go from 

 Exeter to Truro, in Cornwall, and I eaa:erly eml)raced every 

 opportunity of hearing about and personally inspecting the pro- 

 gress of the disease. Near Exeter the disease was everywhere 

 appearing, but did not excite much apprehension ; from Ply- 

 mouth downwards the alarm was general, and every one was 

 getting up his crop with the utmost expedition. Tlie road from 

 i'orpoint, leading through the grounds which mainly suppl}' the 

 markets, afforded an excellent opportunity of settling the ques- 

 tion, " Does the disease spring from the root-stalk, or descend 

 thereto?" After passing by many potato fields we came to a 

 large field where eleven men in a row were digging potatoes, 

 with two others assisting them — thirteen in all. There was not 

 a sound potato-leaf in the field ; and in many instances tlie disease 

 appeared on the stalks. 1 inquired of the proprietor, " Why arc 

 you in such a hurry to get up your potatoes?" " Jiccause the 

 disease would be washed down to the potato by the first rain." 

 " Then you have not had rain lately ?" " No ; it has been very 

 calm — no wind — no rain — but much deio ; ten days ago, I hardly 

 saw a sign; now I never saw the disease worse." ! saw ihemdig 

 up some hundreds of stalks, quite free from disease below the 

 surface, and then said to the grower, "■ It has not affected the lower 

 portion of the stalk, nor the potato as yet." " No, Sir," he replied, 

 " not as yet ; but three or four days after the first rain, look sharp. ' 

 I should observe that " local fog," universally so destructive, was 

 out of the question in this field. When we left Plymouth the 

 price of potatoes per score was IGc/. ; seven days after it was dd. 



I returned, I confess, with some misgivings, for since 1845 the 

 disease had never been so rife ; but my faith in lime and salt 

 as manure was strong ; my faith in fine earth well kept uj> 

 around the stalks, as a certain preventive to the descent of the 

 disease, was still stronger ; and I knew that no nitrogenous com- 



