The Potatoe Plague. 81 
having selected the best for seed, I manured the ground 
heavily in the drill, with the richest and best dung on the 
farm, in order to have as many as possible for planting the 
succeeding year. The extent of the ground was about an 
acre, and I certainly obtained an excellent crop. But as I 
never planted a whole field in the same way without some 
variation by way of experiment, a few drills of similar seed 
were placed next to them, very moderately manured. <At 
the time of taking up the crop, the plants were still green 
in the tops. The few drills already mentioned were pitted 
on the end of a pit not meant for seed, and the produce of the 
acre was pitted by themselves. Next season I planted the 
greater part of the produce of the acre in the usual way, and 
lost one third of the crop. I also planted the produce of the 
few drills in the ordinary way, and had a little curl, but not 
a single blank. 
My view is that a heavy or over-grown crop of potatoes, 
in any soil or situation, will always yield bad seed potatoes; 
and that over-cultivation is the sole or chief’ cause of the de- 
generacy of the plant; and all my experience completely 
confirms me in this position. 
I come now, says this writer, to the cure, or remedy of 
the disease, or the best means of procuring and raising good 
seed. JI would recommend to select the best varieties, and 
raise from the apple; but, in the mean time, to have the 
best and soundest seed for present planting,—always, of 
course, avoiding the produce of a great crop, grown in any 
situation or soul. The land intended for seed should be 
ploughed deep in the autumn. The drills to be thirty inches 
wide, and manured moderately, with a mixture of earth, and 
if earth has not been previously mixed with the manure, a little 
may be drawn into the drills above the manure, and before 
planting the seed. The ground intended for seed should be 
planted with whole potatoes, and about fourteen inches apart, 
