Scheme for Potato Experiments. 
xxxix 
Seeds and Plant Diseases. 
Mr. W HITEHEAD (Chairman) report- 
ed that the eight diagrams of the wheat 
plant, which had been reproduced 
under the direction of the Society’s 
Consulting Botanist, from the original 
drawings of Bauer, in the Botanical De- 
partment of the British Museum, were 
now ready, together with an explana- 
tory pamphlet on the wheat plant. 
The Committee had decided that the 
complete set of these eight diagrams 
should be published at the price of 
10s. per set, including the pamphlet, 
and should be issued through the 
Society’s agents for diagrams, Messrs. 
W. and A. K. Johnston, 6, White Hart 
Street, Warwick Lane, E.C. 
The proposed scheme for the new 
experiments during the forthcoming 
season with Bouillie Bordelaise as a 
remedy against potato disease had 
been carefully considered, and the 
Committee now brought up the follow- 
ing detailed recommendations on the 
subject : 
Scheme for Potato Experiments. 
The general plan of last year’s ex- 
periments to be followed, no impor- 
tant modification being called for. 
Confirmation of the experiments 
of last year is required, inasmuch 
as the Bouillie Bordelaise did not 
show any effect in checking the 
disease, although the crop was in 
some cases increased by the ap- 
plication. 
The question for decision is still 
whether the Bouillie prevents or 
checks the disease. 
Districts . — Six different localities 
to be chosen, five in England — viz., 
in the counties of Kent, Beds, 
Devon, Lincoln, and Lancaster, and 
one in (South) Wales. 
Variety of Potato . — Wherever 
possible, experiments to be made 
upon one and the same selected 
farm, with (o') an early variety of 
potato ; (V) the main crop ; (c) a 
late variety. If this should be 
impossible, the three crops to be 
selected on different farms in the 
same locality, as near to one an- 
other as possible. If it should be im- 
possible to obtain the three different 
crops in the same locality, the 
experiment must be confined to two 
crops, or even to one. 
Size and Number of Plots . — The 
minimum size of an experimental 
plot to be ^ acre. The size recom- 
mended is ^ acre. 
Each experiment on any one 
variety of potato to consist of three 
plots : — 
Plot A. — For early application of 
the Bouillie. 
Plot B. — For late application of 
the Bouillie. 
Plot C. — to be left untreated. 
Thus, if all three crops (early 
variety, main crop, late variety) 
are available on a farm, there 
should be nine plots in the experi- 
ment ; if only two crops are avail- 
able, then six plots ; if only one 
crop, then three plots. 
Arrangement with Eaeperi- 
menters . — The Society will under- 
take to pay the expenses of pur- 
chasing and forwarding sulphate 
of copper and lime, as also all 
reasonable expenses for labour of 
application of dressing, carriage 
hire, &c., but cannot undertake 
responsibility for any loss of crop. 
Superintendence of Experiments. 
— The Society will provide for the 
necessary superintendence at the 
time when the Bouillie Bordelaise 
is applied to the potatoes, and also 
when the weighing of the crop 
takes place. The services of a farm 
labourer will be required at each 
experimental station for the actual 
application of the dressings under 
the direction of the superintendent. 
The cost of the potato experiments, 
including contingencies, wasestimated 
not to exceed £200, and the Com- 
mittee moved for a grant for that 
amount for the purpose. Miss Ormerod 
had presented her quarterly report, 
which the Committee recommended 
for publication (see page 132). 
The Hon. C. T. Pabkee said he 
did not understand whether the pro- 
posed potato experiments were for the 
benefit of the Board of Agriculture, or 
on the Society’s own account. 
Mr. Whitehead replied that it 
was proposed to organise the experi- 
ments in the same way as last year, 
not for the benefit of, but in co-opera- 
tion with, the Board of Agriculture. 
The Board had contributed lOOZ. 
towards the expenses of last year’s 
experiments, which amounted in all 
