60 The Potatoe Plague. 



be left in the open field. We, however, particularly recom- 

 mend that potatoes should not be removed into inhabited 

 rooms. 



With regard to the treatment of potatoes already attacked 

 with the disease, we have to state that in this early stage of 

 our investigation we do not feel justified in proposing to your 

 Excellency any mode of positive treatment, this subject we 

 reserve for a future report; but we may remark that expo- 

 sure to light and dryne^s, in all cases, retards the progress of 

 alterations, such as the disease in question, and we therefore 

 suggest that all such potatoes should, as far as possible, be so 

 treated. 



We do not mean to represent that these recommendations, 

 if carried into effect, will prevent the occurrence of disease in 

 potatoes, but we feel assured that the decay will extend less 

 rapidly and less extensively under these circumstances than 

 if the potatoes, when taken from the ground, be at once pitted 

 in the usual manner. Neither do we offer these suggestions 

 to your Excellency as a final means of securing the crop, but 

 merely as a method of retarding the progress of an enemy 

 whose history and habits are yet but imperfectly known, 

 whilst we endeavor to ascertain the means of more com- 

 pletely counteracting its injurious effects, if any such can 

 be discovered. 



All which we submit to your Excellency's consideration, 

 and remain your Excellency's obedient and faithful servants, 



ROBKKT RANK, 

 JOHN LINDLKY, 

 LYON PLAYFAIR. 



In France, the French Academy of Arts and Sciences 

 deputed M. Charles Morren, of Liege, to examine into the 

 cause of the potatoe rot. Mr. Morren is a foreigner, and his 

 selection by the French, for this inquiry, is a sufficient guar- 



