344 
On the Disease in Potatoes. 
The potatoes iii the Field had been planted in Northumberland 
ridges at the usual planting time' and were well dunged with 
farm-yard manure. They did not come up very kindly nor regu- 
larly, but soon made a great show ot" vigour. Nothing more than 
common appeared till towards the end of August, when the foliage 
appeared to be touched with frost or scorched, and the smell from 
them was somewhat oftensive, though not very strong. About a 
week after the appearance of the decay the stalks were all cut off 
close to the earth, and most of them taken off. The potatoes 
were taken up about Michaelmas in dry weather ; they were re- 
markably clean and nice looking. The diseased potatoes were 
picked out and soon after steamed for the pigs, and given to them 
in the usual way without any injurious results; the sound potatoes 
were piled away in a long heap at the end of a barn which is dry, 
cool, and airy ; after they had been there about a month they were 
turned over and the diseased potatoes were picked out and steamed 
as before: the sound tubers were stored buck with lime in a long 
heap — 1 bushel of lime, which was verj/ mild and powdered, to 1 
sack of potatoes ; the small tubers were picked out and placed by 
themselves without lime. Both lieaps have now been turned back, 
and none are diseased. When first taken up, some of the potatoes 
were cooked : they were not good, but waxy and soapy ; they 
have gradually improved, and are now mealy and fine flavourccL 
The tops were cut off before the potatoes were ripe, which perhaps 
caused them to be waxy and soapy when dressed. Their recent 
treatment has tended to improve them ; and a similar plan of 
treatment would probably do so in all seasons. There were two 
sorts of potatoes in the field — a round red potato, and the salmon 
kidney ; the latter were the most affected by the disease. The 
land on which they were grown is light and dry, on a chalk sub - 
soil, the aspect north-west. The crop for 1846 I commenced 
planting in November ; the sets were small and sound, planted 
whole and well rolled in lime. Some were planted under the 
dung, others over the dung, and some without any manure at all, 
being intended for a top-dressing in the spring. A good many of 
the sets have been examined since, and all continue good as when 
they were first [)ut in. It is difiicult to persuade persons to plant 
potatoes now ; their great objection is that their manure is not 
ready. 
I have ordered that no potato shall be consumed in my house or 
on luy farm until the eyes have been taken out, as advised by 
Dr. Lyon Playfair in his admirable lecture ; and I have appointed 
some careful labovn-ers to take out, week by week, the eyes of the 
potatoes required for a week's consumption ; and I have arranged 
to store the eyes in wood ashes, charcoal, and other dry materials. 
If this plan is as successful as I anticipate, it will be good for all 
