On the prevention of the Curl in tlte Potatoe. 65 



tubers produced by those last planted to be much more soft 

 and watery, when boiled, than others of the same variety, 

 and consequently much inferior in value for every culinary 

 purpose ; and therefore, these were kept for the purpose {)f 

 planting in the last spring. I inferred, consistently with the 

 hypothesis I adduced in the Horticultural Transactions of 

 1811, that the organizable matter these contained, being in 

 a less firm and concrete state, would prove more disposable, 

 and that I might therefore expect, in the succeeding season, 

 plants of stronger growth, and more smooth and perfect 

 foliage. The result, in every respect, coincided with my 

 expectations ; the plants presented the appearance of a dif- 

 ferent variety, and afforded a more abundant crop and larger 

 tubers than I had ever obtained from the same variety. 



This experiment was confined to a single very early kind, 

 which had previously produced partially curled leaves ; but 

 I imagine the same mode of management will prove equally 

 advantageous with other varieties which shew similar indica- 

 tions of incipient disease : and, as every improvement in the 

 culture of this plant, which can add to the produce without 

 increasing the expense, is of importance to the public, I sub- 

 mit the preceding account to the Horticultural Society. 



A very respectable writer, in the Memoirs of the Cale- 

 donian Horticultural Society* Mr. Dickson, has advanced 

 an hypothesis, somewhat different from mine, respecting 

 the Curl in the Potatoe : he conceives it to originate in 

 debility arising from the too great ripeness of the tubers, 

 and in the parent plant having too much expended itself in 

 affording blossoms and seeds, as well as tubers. But I can 



* Vol. i. p. 50. 

 VOL. II. K 



