678 
Analyses of Ashes of Plants. 
Two-thirds of the silicate of soda and one-third of the prepared 
lop-dressing might be apphed to the young plant very early in 
the spring; the remainder of both should be reserved and applied 
as late as practicable, in order that thev may be at the command of 
the plant as the ear fills and the straw and chaff strengthen. 
In many soils, such as stiff clavs, and in all localities where the 
soil is formed from granitic or other primary rocks, the addition 
of silicates will be an unnecessary outlay of money; but the other 
mixture is comparatively inexpensive, and would always more 
than remunerate the farmer, if not in the wheat, at least at some 
other period of the rotation. The advantage of the method of 
application here proposed mainly consists in the use of soluble 
phosphatesj such as those of potash and magnesia, which are pro- 
duced when the materials before mentioned are mixed together ; 
for this purpose, however, the employment of sulphuric acid to 
dissolve the bones is indispensable. It is quite probable that such 
a top-dressing, from its solubility and tendency to absorb moisture, 
would take effect when the season is too dry to allow of other 
applications being made with advantage. But the same solubihty 
will cause its earlier remo\ al from the land by rains and drainage, 
unless the precaution be taken of applying it at intervals, as we 
have suggested. 
XLI. — Potatoe Disease in Poland. 
Foreign Office, November 26t/i, 1846. 
S[R, — I am directed by Viscount Palmerston to transmit to 
you, for the information of the Agricultural Society, an extract 
of a despatch from her Majesty's consul in Poland, relative to the 
potato disease. 
I am, &c. 
E. J. Stanley. 
The Secretarij to the Agricultural Society. 
Extract from Colonel Du Plat's Consular, No. 28, of 
Oct., 16, 1S46. 
I stated that the potato disease was totally unknown in tliis 
country. 
Since making that statement, I have heard of one exception to 
the rule, which has occurred on a small estate not far from War- 
saw, farmed by a Mr. Kedzlie, a British subject of much intelli- 
gence, long established in Poland. The potatoes which have 
