Potato Disease. 295 



Mr. Moore said : 



' There was some little difference of opinion as to the 

 nature and origin of the disease, but none whatever as to 

 its serious extent, in those parts of the country from which 

 the inhabitants of Manchester and the neighbourhood are 

 supplied with potatoes. 



* On the question of preventing or impeding its progress, 

 the committee were fully agreed that keeping the potatoes 

 dry, and frequently bringing them into the action of light 

 and air, was especially desirable, and we are happy in being 

 able to assure your worship, that the recommendations 

 issued in the short published report of the committee, have 

 had a very beneficial effect, by inducing farmers to turn 

 over and examine their potato stores, by which means very 

 much good has already been done ; but it will require con- 

 tinued care and attention to secure a sufficient supply of 

 this necessary article of food for the consumption of the 

 coming winter, and also, for planting in the ensuing spring.' 



On Wednesday, November 26, Mr. Campbell, curator 

 of the Botanical Gardens, reported the result of a series of 

 interesting experiments he had made upon sound and 

 diseased potatoes at the Botanical Gardens, which are in- 

 serted in the minutes of the committee. These experiments 

 completely confirmed the security which sound potatoes 

 possess when properly dried in the air against receiving 

 the infection ; and also demonstrated the check which is 

 given to the progress of the disease in infected tubers by 

 careful drying. 



Mr. Dixon, one of the inspectors of the Manchester 

 Agricultural Society, being present, reported that he had, 

 since the last meeting of the committee, gone over a great 

 extent of country in North Cheshire and Lancashire, to 



