92 AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



These results are recorded merely as those of a first experi- 

 ment. They are, however, not without some interest when 

 considered in connection with previous observations. The fact 

 that a scabby potato may produce, under certain circumstances, 

 a smooth and otherwise excellent potato must be accepted. 

 The recognition of this fact does not, however, entitle us to the 

 conclusion that it is a safe course to advise planting scabby 

 potatoes with the expectation of raising a superior, healthy 

 potato, without awaiting the results of a repetition of the experi- 

 ment under modified circumstances. Good potatoes have been 

 raised before from seed potatoes suffering from scab without 

 any previous treatment similar to ours. Without any inten- 

 tion of anticipating the results of future observations, or to point 

 out with certainty the exact cause of the results, we feel in- 

 clined to consider a difi^erence in the condition of the soil on our 

 old and new experimental potato plats, the real seat of our 

 troubles ; for the former yielded most inferior, scabby potatoes, 

 whilst the latter produced a most superior, smooth potato under 

 otherwise identical conditions as far as soil, mode of cultivation 

 and kind of fertilizer, upon land in close proximity, during the 

 same season. 



Potato Protector. 



The material consisted of a brownish mixture of organic 

 and earthy substances, which smelled strongly of hypochlorous 

 acid. It deflagrated violently at red heat, and left 35.40 per 

 cent of crude ash, which contained 12.40 percent, of chlorine, 

 14.15 per cent, of calcium oxide and 0.11 per cent, of phos- 

 phoric acid, the rest being silicious matter. 



A watery solution was dark- colored and smelled like a de- 

 coction of some herb, possibly the Bone-set {Eupatorium per- 

 foliaium). A solution of some whitish substances it contained 

 quickly decolorized an indigo solution. 



From the above observation it appears that the substance is 

 a mixture of some herbaceous matter with hypochlorite of lime 

 (bleaching lime) as a prominent constituent. 



The claim of the manufacturer is stated in the subsequent 

 copy of a circular sent on with the material for our exami- 

 nation : — 



