SECRETARY'S REPORT. 35 



tlian in the affection first described. The progress of this attack was 

 rapid in many instances, but slow in others, whole fields in some 

 localities looking brown and withered, while spots of similar brown 

 color were exhibited by the stalk. About the middle of August 

 diseased tubers began to be found among the earlier varieties of the 

 potato, and on the 29th of that month the first thorough examination 

 of the actual disease was made. In this instance the variety was the 

 Chenango, planted for early marketing. The soil was a light gravelly 

 loam and was heavily manured the previous year with barn cellar 

 manure spread and ploughed in. 



The crop at that time was corn and the yield heavy. The past 

 season the same kind of manure was applied for the potatoes, in the 

 hill. The growth of vines was very vigorous and rank, but although 

 the inflorescence was good no capsules were formed in the field. 



Not far from the first of August the proprietor commenced digging 

 for market, when the tubers were found abundant and of large size. 

 The leaves at that time presented to some extent the blackened ap- 

 pearance first described in this report. As the price of potatoes fell 

 rapidly, the digging was suspended, and in the mean time the decay 

 of the leaf contiinied to progress, and a week previous to the visit of 

 the committee, indications of disease were found upon the tubers. At 

 the time of the visit, from six hills dug and yielding a large number 

 of tubers, only three were found to be healthy. The following is a 

 description of the disease of the tuber, which we have had many 

 opportunities of examining. As we have been favored with ample 

 opportunities for microscopic inspection, your committee would here 

 express in a public manner their great obligations to that able and 

 thorough microscopist, Dr. Silas Durkee, of Boston, for his very 

 efficient aid in this department, and Ave regret very much that the 

 policy of* retrenchment was carried quite so far by the last legislature, 

 that by its refusal to grant the small pittance asked for by your com- 

 mittee, under the sanction of the board of agriculture, we have been 

 unable to remunerate him for his valuable services, otherwise than 

 by recomniending that the Jhanks of the board be given him by a 

 special vote. 



The first indication which the tuber presents to the eye of the 

 access of disease, is a brownish discoloration of the skin, limited 

 sometimes to small points, in other cases presenting itself in irregular 

 patches. A more careful examination shows the skin to be nearly or 

 quite detached from its connections, its removal showing a small 

 quantity of colorless fluid. If this fluid is removed and the diseased 

 spot thoroughly dried, the progress of the disease in that portion of 



