The Potatoe Plague. 81 



having selected the best for seed, I manured the ground 

 heavily in the drill, with the richest and best dung on the 

 farm, in order to have as many as possible for planting the 

 succeeding year. The extent of the ground was about an 

 acre, and I certainly obtained an excellent crop. But as I 

 never planted a whole field in the same way without some 

 variation by way of experiment, a few drills of similar seed 

 were placed next to them, very moderately manured. At 

 the time of taking up the crop, the .plants were still green 

 in the tops. The few drills already mentioned were pitted 

 on the end of a pit not meant for seed, and the produce of the 

 acre was pitted by themselves. Next season I planted the 

 greater part of the produce of the acre in the usual way, and 

 lost one third of the crop, I also planted the produce of the 

 few drills in the ordinary way, and had a little curl, but not 

 a single blank* 



My view is that a heavy or over-grown crop of potatoes, 

 in any soil or situation, will always yield bad seed potatoes ; 

 and that over-cultivation is the sole or chief cause of the de- 

 generacy of the plant ; and all my experience completely 

 confirms me in this position, 



I come now, says this writer, to the cure, or remedy of 

 .the disease, or the best means of procuring and raising good 

 seed. I would recommend to select the best varieties, and 

 raise from the apple ; but, in the mean time, to have the 

 best and soundest seed for present planting, always, of 

 course, avoiding the produce of a great crop, grown in any 

 situation or soil. The land intended for seed should be 

 ploughed deep in the autumn. The drills to be thirty inches 

 wide, and manured moderately, with a mixture of earth, and 

 if earth has not been previously mixed with the manure, a little 

 may be drawn into the drills above the manure, and before 

 planting the seed. The ground intended for seed should be 

 planted with whole potatoes, and about fourteen inches apart, 



