r 47 ] 



from degenerated or defeftive feed; and as it is cer- 

 tain that the plant is difeafed when it fiifl appears 

 above the ground, 1 concluded that the germe or 

 fhoot mufl receive an accidental injury, between the 

 old fet and the furface of the ground. Strongly im- 

 preffed with the truth of this opinion, I dug up 

 fcveral curled roots, and compared them with healthy 

 ones. The firfl: difference that occurred to me was 

 in colour. The lower part of the healthy roots was ■ 

 whicifti, without fear or blemifli, and of a reddiih 

 purple colour, near the furface of the ground. The 

 difeafed roots, near the furface of the ground, were 

 whitifh, and the lower part had more or lefs the ap- 

 pearance of canker. On a further infpeftion, they 

 were found to have been nibbled by fome infefV. 

 This was not equally apparent in every flioot. Some 

 were found, where the firft flioot was eaten off en- 

 tirely, about an inch, more or lefs, from the fet; and 

 from tjie part which remained a new flioot vegetated. 

 Others were eaten about half through, and in length 

 from an inch or two to a mere point: and in fome 

 plants the wound feemed quite healed, and the only 

 appearance was that of a fmall fear, or fpot, of the 

 colour of an iron-mould. I have found more curled 

 plants arifing from the butt, than from the crown 

 end of the potatoe, and from fmall potatoes than 

 from large ones. The flioots which grow with 

 leaft: vigour, are longeft expofed to accidental injuries, 

 and probably are more mild or palatable to infefts. 



From 



