The Potatoe Plague. 87 



the whole month 1 ; and even extended into September, and 

 this is, I should conceive, an extraordinary direction in re- 

 gard to their continuity. Everybody has seen, according to 

 the old phrase, " motes dancing in the sunbeams." Now, as 

 to the sporules of various fungi, why may it not be possible 

 for them to possess so little specific gravity as to be lighter 

 than their own volume of air to ascend thereby in common 

 with mists to be incorporated with clouds to traverse 

 thousands of miles in a few days, and to descend as propa- 

 gandists wherever the winds choose to carry them, or for 

 condensation to take place ? In conclusion I beg to say that 

 J. would not attempt to repudiate the idea of predisposition 

 altogether, but merely direct the attention of the public to 

 facts probably equally important. 



Whatever may be the origin of the fungus, says another 

 writer, depend upon it, perseverance must be resorted to in 

 order to get rid of it; if tubers are planted with a particle of 

 it on them, and the season proves again congenial for its 

 spread, it will again destroy the crop. As a proof of this JL 

 planted a few infected potatoes, without putting into practice 

 the precaution I have used with my other potatoes, and the 

 consequence is that the obnoxious pest made its appearance 

 in its usual blotchings, while a quantity of others, which I 

 had stored in perfectly dry charred articles, are growing 

 away healthily ; a quantity with foliage and stalks above a 

 foot in height, clear from spot or blemish, looks at present as 

 well as could be wished. Depend upon it, the recommenda- 

 tion to shake lime about the tubers previous to planting, is 

 most essential to prevent the further spread of the fungi, let 

 the latter originate in whatever form they may, and should 

 foe immediately put into practice. Supposing every tuber 

 intended for next season's production to be individually dredg- 

 ed with, lime, an active boy would dredge a large quantity in 

 .a day ; the expense would be trifling, either for material or 



