420 



Trial of Seedling Potatoes. ^ 



rendered very doubtful by Mr. Lawes's careful experiments. In 

 any case, however, the process now proposed will be equally 

 applicable. Since this inquiry was begun, I find it mentioned 

 by Baron Liebig that moistened bones generate heat and enter 

 into putrefaction. The application of this principle is what 1 

 now feel warranted, after two years' careful trial, to recommend 

 to the notice of English farmers. It is the same principle as, 

 when carried to excess, shows itself in the formidable shape of 

 spontaneous combustion ; but I entertain the hope that this law 

 of nature, which has hitherto only been known to us by setting 

 fire to our ricks, or kindling the cargoes of ships, may at last 

 become a willing handmaid in enriching our fields. 



Pusey, Nov. 7, 1847. Ph. Pusey. 



XVIT.— Trial of Seedling Potatoes. By W. Miles. 

 To Mr. Pusey. 



Mr DEAR Pusey, — You may recollect that early in March this 

 year som.e potato-seed was distributed amongst the Members of 

 the Council : to my lot fell about half a table-spoon of seed and 

 charcoal mixed, which I immediately sent down to my gardener, 

 with instructions to him to do the hesi he could to procure the 

 greatest number of plants, and the largest quantity of potatoes 

 from each plant, so as to ensure a stock of tubers from seedling 

 plants, the parents of which had appeared to have been in no- 

 wise infected by the prevalent disease. The following is the 

 report sent in to me from my gardener : — - 



On March 15th the seed was sown in a shallow box about 

 4 inches deep, and placed in an early vinery; as the plants came 

 up they were kept pricked off three in a large 60-sized pot, and 

 still kept in the vinery until the plants were about 3 inches high, 

 when they were potted off singly into 4 8 -sized pots, and put into 

 a green-house, where they remained until the 15th of May, when 

 they were planted in the open ground, at 2 feet distance from 

 plant to plant in the row, and 3 feet from row to row. In plant- 

 ing the plants were turned out of the pots with the balls entire, 

 placed on the surface of the ground at the above distance, and the 

 earth then drawn to the plants, leaving only two joints or leaves 

 above the surface, after which they were well watered with a rose- 

 pot to settle the earth round the plants. About the middle of 

 June the roots were found appearing very strong on the surface, 

 when 3 inches more earth was added to them, the same system 

 being continued as often as the roots appeared on the surface. 

 On the 5th of August six of the weakest plants were observed 

 ripening off, and were taken up ; the others remained in the ground 



