Miscellaneous Intelligence. 283 
July, even on adjoining farms. _ The cause then remains still a 
mystery. ssi iar wilh ars 
Of remedies a very great number have been suggested ; many 
without due consideration. . Sayaka 
~ The commissioners sent by the English government into Ireland were 
Particularly unfortunate in this respect, for want of a little practical 
knowledge added to their undoubted scientific attainments. All the 
means of prevention that have formerly proved successful failed during 
the last year. An excellent method has been to change the seed every 
‘Year, taking it from a high country to the lowlands, but this was found 
_ tohave lost its efficacy. Gypsum, and hot slaked lime, have also been 
of little benefit. The greening of potatoes intended for seed, by letting 
em lay in the sun, has been much recommended, and on cutting up 
the sun burned potatoes it has been found, according to some state- 
ments, that the greened parts were never diseased. It may be well.to 
‘urn attention to this subject. In former years some persons succeeded 
‘MW invigorating the crop by means of certain saline manures, and even 
during the last season it was thought that they were in some degree 
beneficial. We are not aware that any plan heretofore suggested has 
‘Proved uniformly successful over any great breadth of country. 
~ +h€ preservation of the crop during the winter has excited the deep- 
st interest, and. here also the number of methods proposed defies enu- 
Meration, The result of all the trials seems to be that the disease makes 
____ Wety slow progress and in many instances none at all, when the potatoes 
a5 are kept perfectly dry and well ventilated. Both of these conditions 
Sem absolutely essential; packing them in dry absorbent earth, and 
ven in charcoal has proved a signal failure. It is necessary in any 
case where the disease has made much progress to pick over the heaps 
frequently, and carefully select all of the affected tubers. Kiln drying 
been resorted to in cases of extremity ; this preserves. the potato 
‘food but of course destroys its vitality. pans AE : 
Of the various plans proposed for the planting of potatoes in spring, 
Rene has been found more efficacious than cutting carefully selected 
*t0es into sets, containing each two or three healthy eyes. hese 
Sells are sprinkled with sulphuric or hydrochloric. acid, diluted in the 
 Pfoportion. of one pound of acid to four gallons of water. Newly 
_ Slaked lime, or gypsum is then added so as to form a-crust over the cut 
oe The diseased potatoes have not. been found injurious as food. In 
*cotland all kinds of domestic animals have been fed with them freely, 
_ 4nd etually thrived. upon them. . We have in the present communi- 
Cation glanced. merely at the principal points of interest hitherto touched, 
in the researches. upon this subject ; it is much to know which are false 
“Meories, even if, we have made little positive advance. 
