384 Results of the Competition of 1%7 ^, ft 
my visit to the different localities where the crops were growing, I 
as to the nature of the soil, previous cropping, the preparation | 
of the land, the manure, and the time and manner of planting 
the seed, will be best appreciated in a tabular form, where the 
eye can readily compare and contrast the various data given. 
In the Table opposite (IV.) I have arranged the localities from 
south northwards, first on the eastern side of the United King- 
dom, and then in the same order on the western side. The two 
groups into Avhich the localities are thus separated are distin- 
guished by the difference in the amount of annual rainfall, as 
shown in the first column. The data for this column must be 
considered as approximate for the particular locality, being 
obtained from the published reports of the nearest meteorolo- 
gical stations. The distribution of the localities secured, as will 
be observed, a good representation of the different meteorological 
conditions occurring in Britain. The various kinds of soil, too, 
were fairly represented, as well as the variations in cropping, and 
in the treatment of the potato crop practised by agriculturists. 
The season of 1874 was dry up till the end of July and the 
beginning of August, when frequent and sometimes heavy rains 
occurred. In the progress of my inspection of the crops I met 
with no disease till I passed over to Ireland. Thereafter, 
throughout Ireland and Scotland, and the north of England, I 
found the experimental crops diseased, except in Northumber- 
land and East Lothian. At Elgin some of Mr. Yool's general 
crop was affected by disease, but I was unable to detect any 
among the experimental plots, though it was found to be present 
in three kinds when the potatoes were raised, but then only to 
a very small extent. 
The disease appeared suddenly in Ireland, and spread with its 
wonted rapidity. In a few days after its appearance the fields 
in the south and west of Ireland were black. I visited Fermoy 
(Munster) on August 15th. The crops had been progressing 
satisfactorily till the beginning of the month. Until^July 26th 
there had been no rain on the field in which the potatoes were 
growing since they were planted, but on that day there was a 
heavy shower, and showers occurred during several succeeding 
days. On August 4tli the leaves of all the experimental crops, 
as well as of the regular crop, showed here and there the presence 
of disease ; and on the 15th I found that it had reached the 
tubers in some cases. When I reached Ballinasloe (Connaught), 
on the 17th, the extent of the injury from disease was greater. 
The field in which the potatoes were growing had been recently 
reclai med f rom bog, and was almost a black ])eat. The whole of 
the plants were remarkably vigorous, but the foliage was exten- 
sively diseased, and the tubers were also aflected. The early 
