84 The Potatoe Plague. 



He ascribes the disease to frost, which, however, did " not act 

 directly on the tuber ; but indirectly through the leaves." 



Mr. Phillips has instituted a careful investigation of all the 

 facts connected with the disease, and has collected some use- 

 ful information. He is unable to find fungi, and ascribes the 

 evil to too much moisture, the effect of long continued rains, 

 which "stimulated the plant beyond its ability, and then 

 overpowered it. The plant formed more pendulums, (sic) 

 and tubers, than it could support, which being left to them- 

 selves, putrefied," &c. Near the end of this pamphlet is a 

 statement, that if the potatoe fields had been divided by 

 trenches into compartments, the author has no doubt that the 

 present disease would have been warded off. Mr. Phillips 

 does not seem to be aware that what are called lazybeds in 

 Ireland, are made exactly upon his plan, and, unfortunately, 

 they are very far from having proved any security against 

 the disease. The fact, moreover, is, that the best drained 

 land has been as much, or more attacked, than the worst. 



Mr. Buckman regards fungi analogous to that which pro- 

 duces smut in barley, as concerned in the evil. ' He finds 

 their seeds, (spores) sticking abundantly to the sides of the 

 cells, and calls the species Uredo tuberosum. He does not, 

 however, regard the Uredo as the basis and origin of the 

 evil ; he looks upon it as a mere effect attributable to the 

 peculiar state of a late season. As remedies, he advocates a 

 solution of chloride of lime, or chlorine gas ; but he does not 

 seem to have any personal experience of their advantage. 

 He also mentions the following plan, adopted by Mr. Sclater, 

 a large potatoe grower of Exeter, as effectually stopping the 

 further ravages of the disease. Soak the tubers for an hour 

 in a weak solution of chloride of lime. Then dry well and 

 soak for another hour in a solution of three pounds common 

 soda in seventy-five quarts of water. Finally, dry them 

 well, and store them in a dry place. We are persuaded that 



