134 



Extract continued. 



Unfortunately, with the new light thrown on the life- 

 history and the resting-spores of the Potato disease by the 

 valuable experiments of Mr. Worthingto'n Smith, so lucidly 

 illustrated and described by that gentleman in your pages 

 as to lay us all under the deepest obligation to him, the 

 Potato disease has again broken out with a spontaneity and 

 an energy beyond precedent. It can hardly be said to have 

 come unexpectedly. The Potato crop, up till now, has been 

 one of unusual promise. The recent rains, however, have 

 produced an extraordinary length and succulency of stem. 

 Both these were sources of danger. All, however, generally 

 promised well until within the last two or three weeks. The 

 early crops somewhat more watery than usual, were a beautiful 

 yield and of fair quality, The late ones made unusual pro- 

 gress alike above and below. Such strong growers as the Cli- 

 max, Late Rose, Sutton's flour-ball, Red Regents, Flukes,&c., 

 were all simply magnificent. But the heavy rains and semi- 

 saturated atmosphere and soil, combined with the soft suc- 

 culent growth of the Potato plants, have at length origina- 

 ted the disease almost everywhere, and it is spreading with 

 more than usual rapidity. Its fatal effects are seen running 

 in black lines and patches through almost every garden and 

 field, and the unwholesome odour of diseased Potatoes is 

 wafted abroad on almost every breeze. The resting-spores 

 now proved by Mr. Smith's experiments and observations 

 to be always present, have been stimulated into active life 

 by climatal and vital conditions most favourable to their de- 

 velopment, and have made haste to possess the Potato 

 plant and its produce, and lay both low in rottenness. 



Can anything be done to arrest its progress or save 

 the crops, so plentiful and fine, from destruction ? Such 

 has been the sorrowful query asked hundreds of times 

 during the past weeks, as I have examined scores of cot- 

 tagers' gardens well stocked with fine crops of doomed 



