536 



to be an effectual remedy against the corn fungi. I would beg to sug- 

 gest to such as are fond of trying experiments, to steep some of the 

 seed-potatoes in such solutions as our chemical friends may recom- 

 mend, being persuaded the root is the right end to begin at in endea- 

 vouring to find a remedy for the evil. I am aware that several persons 

 have already tried this, and I am doing so myself, having steeped 

 some in a solution of salt in water, and am making preparation to try 

 the sulphate of copper steep. 



The great importance of raising new seedling varieties of the po- 

 tato ought to be specially attended to, not that 1 think seedlings re- 

 cently raised were less subject to be affected by the disease, but 

 because I feel convinced there yet remains gi'eat room for improving 

 this important esculent in form, produce and quality, though it might 

 be supposed, that by general consent, it were agreed that potato cul- 

 ture had reached the acme of perfection, so far as attempts have been 

 made to improve varieties of late years; and in this point of view, the 

 late failure may yet be found to have been the cause of producing 

 important results. 



To make the most of sound seed is another consideration which 

 forces itself on our attention at the present time. I believe it has ge- 

 nerally occurred that tubers which were much divided at planting, 

 were more liable to decay than those which were planted whole. It 

 might, therefore, be a somewhat hazardous experiment to cut potatoes 

 much while such uncertainty prevails concerning their growth ; but 

 from experience I can vouch that young shoots, taken from tubers 

 after they have grown three or four inches, and have their rootlets, 

 will grow and produce excellent crops, if carefully removed from the 

 tuber and planted separately, and in this way sound seed might be 

 amazingly increased, as we annually prove in the Botanic Garden. I 

 do not, however, mean the long, blanched shoots which grow from 

 potatoes crowded in close pits ; to be successful, the tubers must be 

 placed in situations where the young shoots will get both light and 

 air, and thereby gain some strength before they are removed from the 

 old tuber. It is also necessary to choose moist, cloudy weather for 

 planting, if possible. 



An experiment of this nature is now being tried in the Garden, at 

 the suggestion of his Excellency the Lord liieutenant. I have been 

 directed by the Council of the Royal Dublin Society to remove the 

 young shoots, produced from diseased tubers, and plant them sepa- 

 rately, to prove what effect that will have in staying the decay, the 



