i.9°9-] 



" Leather Jackets." 



763 



probably safe, but there would seem to be some difficulty in securing 

 Snowdrop potatoes true to type. 



Traces of disease were found on one or two plants of Abundance 

 and Conquest at one centre, but it is possible that the affected plants 

 were "rogues," for not a trace of disease was found on these varieties 

 at other centres, although growing on soil on which almost every 

 plant of Up-to-date was diseased. 



No trace of disease was seen on Langworthy, What's Wanted and 

 Golden W'onder. These three sorts all belong to a type of potato 

 formerly well known as Clarke's Maincrop. The first two are much 

 alike ; the third is a brown skinned potato of good quality grown in 

 some parts of Scotland, but not yet common. 



Of the various sorts which were not affected by disease, Conquest and 

 Snowdrop are early, and the others late in ripening. 



Growers who have infected soil should procure seed of one of the 

 sorts that do not contract disease. Conquest would probably prove best 

 for early use, and Langworthy as a late or field potato. 



This letter is being sent to you before the information is made 

 public, in order that you may at once take steps to purchase the seed 

 you require for next year. 



Growers, where land is infected, should avoid not only Up-to-date, 

 but all varieties of the same class, that is, varieties having the same kind 

 of haulm and flower, such as Factor, Table Talk, Dalhousie, 

 Highlander, Mayfield Blossom, Duchess of Cornwall, Hero; they 

 should similarly avoid potatoes of the same type as British Queen, R'oyal 

 Kidney, or any other of the affected varieties. 



The importance of following this advice cannot be too strongly 

 insisted upon. Wart Disease is not very widely spread in Great Britain, 

 but it is very bad in allotments and gardens in most places where it 

 has appeared. No ordinary crop is liable to be attacked by it except 

 the potato, and if everyone plants, either disease-resisting varieties of 

 the potato, or some other crop on his holding, it is likely that the 

 disease will die a natural death and disappear. But it must be borne 

 in mind that to secure this, no potatoes that are liable to attack should 

 be planted in infected ground for many years. 



T am, &c, 



T. H. Elliott, 



Secretary. 



The Board of Agriculture and Fisheries are informed that the 

 Lancashire Farmers' Association are taking steps to induce their 

 members to adopt cultural methods for 

 "Leather Jackets." reducing the numbers of the larva? or grubs of 

 Daddy Longlegs, or Crane Fly, and the 

 Board desire to bring this information to the notice of all farmers' in 

 the north-west and north of England and the south-west of Scotland, 

 in which districts these grubs, known as Leather Jackets, have wrought 

 great injury in recent years, more especially to the oat crop. 



The methods recommended are as follows : — Clover leys which are 

 to be sown with cereals to be closely cropped and a dressing of gas 

 lime applied. The land to be skimmed and the cultivator used several 

 times, so that the grubs not destroyed by the lime will be brought to 



