On the Potato Disease. 
389 
tion * arose, that I could not discern a tree at about three yards 
distance — the atmosphere being upon this, as well as upon other 
similar occasions during the summer, extremely oppressive; and it 
is, I believe, certain, that this same kind of weather prevailed 
nearly all over England about the same time.f On the 1st of 
August another storm burst upon us with terrific thunder and 
lightning, and around the metropolis a shower of enormous hail- 
stones; and a similar storm, with the exception of the hail, oc- 
curred again on the 5th. Here and there a trifling cjmplaint of 
the disease had been previously made; but, the plants having been 
subject to artificial treatment, this might arise from particular 
causes, from which I believe the potato has always suffered ; but 
a very few days after the last storm the outcry became general 
that the potato-crops were again stricken. The weather, how- 
ever, became subsequently dry and warm, with a clear air favour- 
able to evaporation, which in light friable soils well drained has 
rendered the injury much lighter than it would have been ; but in 
heavy undrained soils the loss has been very serious — in some 
places, especially with the late varieties, amounting to total de- 
struction of the crop. As regards a remedy, I believe the only 
safe plan is to prepare the ground in the autumn by draining, 
deep trenching, or ploughing, using a moderate quantity of ma- 
nure, and planting as early in the year as the weather will admit; 
and should the disease attack the crop, I am certainly in favour 
of pulling up the haulm as soon as it is perceived, for I found 
many more diseased tubers beneath those roots whose stalks I 
left standing than where the haulm was pulled up; and had the 
latter part of the season been less propitious, 1 have no doubt the 
bad ones would hare been in far greater proportion. It has been 
stated by Mr. Gilbert, of Ealing, that where he had his ground 
trenched two spits deep he had scarcely an unsound potato, but 
that where it was dug only one spit deep there were a great many 
diseased, although the sets were from the same stock — all par- 
tially diseased, and planted contiguous to each other. Whether 
they were planted at different seasons or not I am not aware ; but 
if this plan should prove as successful upon all occasions, it is very 
important ; as it not only shows the advantage of deep tillage, but 
would afford much additional employment during the winter 
season. It has also been said by some persons, that where thev 
planted unsound sets the crop was uninjured ; but where sound 
ones were used that it was as difficult to find a sound potato, as 
* To this fog, and a similar one last year, the disease has been attributed 
by a correspondent of the ' Gardeners Chronicle,' Oct. 31. 
t The county of Northampton, or a great part of it, is said to have suf- 
fered very little, and its produce supplied many London dealers in October, 
as I was informed by a large salesman. 
