380 
Results of the Competition of 1874, 
space occupied. These different items of information have been 
brousflit together in a Table, so that the different methods mavbe 
easily compared and contrasted (see page 384). Information has 
also been obtained as to the after-cultivation of the crop, and the 
monthly appearance of the experimental plots and the general 
crop. A book was prepared and forwarded to each grower for 
recordinsr these matters. This book also contained a calendar 
for a daily record of the weather. With a single exception * 
these books have been kept with great care, and from them has 
been derived the greater proportion of the facts contained in this 
Report. 
The Committee requested me to inspect all the plots while 
the potatoes were growing. Between the 27th July and the 
4th September I accordingly visited all the localities ; beginning 
in the south of England, and travelling northwards until I reached 
Lancashire, then crossing to Ireland, and after inspecting the four 
plots there, returning again to the north of England, and prose- 
cuting my journey northwards till I finished at Elgin. 
The Committee further secured the assistance of five gentlemen 
to be present on behalf of the Society at raising the crops, to 
superintend the operations, and determine whether the disease 
had attacked any of the tubers, and if it had, to determine the 
extent of the injury. Professor Baldwin, of Glasnevin, under- 
took this work for Ireland ; Mr. Thomas INIylne, of Niddry 
Mains, Edinburgh, for Scotland ; Mr. W. H. Wakefield, of 
Kendal, Westmoreland, for the north-west of England ; Mr. 
Jabez Turner, for the east and north-east ; and myself for the 
southern districts. Instructions were given to these Judges 
to have all the potatoes attacked with the disease separated from 
the others, and to weigh the produce in the field. They were 
to record in a schedule, with which they were provided, the 
weight of healthy potatoes in each plot, of diseased ones, the size 
of each plot, and the rate of produce per acre. They were 
asked to supply also the same infomnation about the general 
crop in each farm, and to record any observation wlvich might 
be of interest in connection with their inspection. These 
Reports were all duly made. The whole of the potatoes were 
packed, the healthy and diseased tubers of each plot being kept 
separate and carefully labelled. They were then dispatched to 
London, and received at the Agricultural Hall, where, by the 
courtesy of the Directors, they were for some time accom- 
modated. 
* The potatoes in the experimental plots at Garlially, Ballinasloe camo up so 
badly that Mr. Nesbitt unfortunately laid aside his book, thinking it would be 
unuccossary to keep the record. 
