Vegetables, 
751 = 491 
be the best practice. In the counties of Essex, Cheshire, and 
ncashire, potatoes generally follow clover leys, after barley or 
ts. Sometimes the ley is left for two years before potatoes are 
ien. Potatoes are usually planted after white-straw crops in 
^ south and the east of England, as well as in the Lothians 
il other parts of Scotland. 
York or Dunbar Regents, Rocks, Paterson's Victorias, Dal- Sorts usually 
ihoys. Redskins, Flour Balls, and Lapstones are chiefly planted planted. 
• the ordinary crop. !Myatt's Early Kidneys, Ashleaf Kidneys, 
men Kidneys, are the sorts usually grown for early digging. 
The total cost of cultivating an acre of potatoes, including Cost of culti- 
nnure, seed, cultivation, digging and delivery, may be put at '''^tion. 
im 17/. to 25/. per acre. An average yield upon the best 
jtato land is from 5^ to 10 tons per acre. Upon land of second 
( ality, from 4^ to 8 tons are grown per acre. The average Average price 
} ce made of potatoes in London during the last ten years potatoes for 
i ol. lOs. per ton, the highest prices during that time having years, 
hn 10/. 12s. 6(/. in June 1873, caused by the virulence of the 
j:ato disease in the preceding year; and the lowest 3/. 10s. in 
I'cember 1870. 
Since 1845, when the potato disease, caused by the fungus, Potato disease. 
jijtopthora infestans, first appeared, it has periodically de- 
^ stated the fields of Great Britain, and has much checked the 
c tivation of potatoes, and reduced the profits of the growers. 
'. ere is at present no remedy known against the attack of this 
i idious fungus, nor any cure for plants when attacked by it. 
I life-history has only recently been completed by the researches its life-history 
( Professor t)e Bary * and Mr. Worthington Smith, the former o^ly recently 
( whom identified the sexual organs in the mycelium of the ^^^.^ ^ 
i igus, and described them as oogonia and antheridia. The Worthington 
1 ter witnessed the act of fertilisation by the antheridia, and Smith, 
t ced the progress of the oogonium — called by Mr. Carruthers, an 
pore t — through its various stages until its separation from 
mycelium. This oospore, or rest spore, or, more plainly, the 
in of the fungus, rests in the tubers, on the haulm, and on 
: leaves of the potato-plant. When all these have decayed the 
i m remains, able to withstand winter frosts or rains, and to 
t elope the dreaded fungus when suitable conditions arrive. 
The practical value of these discoveries is to point out to 
J ato-growers the necessity of planting undiseased seed, and of 
' Researches into the Nature of the Potato Fungus,' by Professor A. De Bary, 
lie University of Strasbourg, ' Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society,' 
sii., 2nd series, 1876. 
' Note on Sir. W. J. Smith's discovery of the Rest Spores of the Potato 
Igus,' by W. Carruthers, F.R.S., Consulting Botanist to the Royal Agricultural 
iety, ' Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society,' vol xi., 2nd series. 
I 
