Potato Disease. 297 



arresting the growth of any parasitic fungi that might have 

 taken root, or be feeding upon them ; and they have reason 

 to beHeve that, by this precaution, a large amount of human 

 food has, in this neighbourhood, been saved, which would 

 otherwise have perished. 



Your committee also consider it right to claim for the 

 chemical sub-committee the merit of being the first to re- 

 commend, from careful experiments, the efficacy and safety 

 of very dilute sulphuric acid, in arresting the progress of 

 decay upon such tubers as are partially affected with 

 disease ; and, from the experiments of Mr. Campbell, there 

 appears reason to conclude that, as keeping potatoes dry 

 and frequently exposed to light and air is the safest way 

 of preventing them from decay, so it will also afford the 

 best security for a healthy and vigorous growth in the 

 ensuing spring. 



It is well known that, in ordinary seasons, when pota- 

 toes are pitted and stored in the common way, a great 

 proportion begin to sprout before the time of planting the 

 later kinds, and these sprouts have, from time to time, to be 

 rubbed off, to the manifest weakening of the plant. 



Under the comparatively imperfect growth of the tubers 

 of the present year, although Mr. Campbell has proved they 

 will vegetate freely, it is certain they would not stand this 

 waste of vitality ; and hence it becomes the more necessary 

 to adopt the course he has pointed out, viz. keeping them 

 dry, to prevent them from sprouting until they are required 

 for planting. 



Your committee cannot conclude without acknowledg- 

 ing the kindness and attention they have received from all 

 persons to whom application has been made for information 

 during this important inquiry ; and they regret that the 



