120 WORCESTER SOCIETY. 



chairman wrote to Mr. Richards, requesting him to inform him 

 whether he had discovered the rot among the "Royal Blue 

 Heart Seedlings," and whether he had any experience which 

 satisfied him what was the cause of that disease ; and to which 

 Mr. Richards obligingly sent him the following answer : — 



"Hon. John W. Lincoln: — 



Dear Sir, — I have been delayed in my reply to your inquiries, 

 that I might examine particularly my English seedlings. They 

 have never been affected in past years with the ' disease,' nor 

 have I, after a minute examination of them, discovered any signs 

 of it. I have no opinion I wish to risk after the projection of so 

 many theories, in time past, respecting the cause of the ' dis- 

 ease.' After some observation I have, however, discovered two 

 things. 



1st. Potatoes dug before the tops have signs of blast were 

 sound, and have remained so when kept. If this should prove 

 a general fact, may we not infer, that, had the tops been cut 

 close while in this state, or had the potatoes been dug early, 

 more of them, and perhaps all of them, might have been saved. 



2nd. That potatoes manured with compost made of mud, 

 ashes, and lime, have been less affected, for three years past, than 

 when planted in other mixtures. Whatever I have communi- 

 cated, that is of any service to you, is at your disposal. 



Your most obedient servant, 



W. C. RICHARDS. 



N. E. Village, Oct. 14, 1847." 



The committee being of the opinion that a desire to introduce 

 a better kind of potato should receive the favorable notice of 

 the society, recommend that a copy of " Washington's Letters" 

 be presented to the Rev. W. C. Richards, as the evidence of 

 their approval of his experiments, and of the communication of 

 the results to the public, and of his mode of cultivation. 



JOHN W. LINCOLN, 

 JOHN HAMMOND, 

 DARIUS RICE, 



Committee. 



