Page:Treatise on Cultivation of the Potato.djvu/57

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53

seedlings became diseased also. They blossomed, but bore no 'plums.' They were sown on 11th and 13th March, close beside diseased potatoes, in a field in which the disease has always shown itself since it commenced; soil, loam; part well, part ill ventilated; manure, farm-yard and a little guano. A few tubers were nearly full size; about 70 plants per 100 absolutely resisted the disease. I believe that the disease might be extinguished. I think these researches should not be left to individuals. Your obedient servant,

W. LAMONT."

Report from J. Bailey, Esq., Shirley, Southampton, per Mr. Blundell.

"Seedlings were grown within about 30 feet of old diseased potatoes, and with nothing between them. Disease had developed itself in the garden each year; soil gravelly, well ventilated; seed sown 7th April. A few tubers attained full size, and about 80 per 100 plants resisted the disease absolutely."

"Report.

Soil light sandy, pretty open though well sheltered; liberally manured in Autumn, with farm-yard manure; disease in the garden the year before; grown on a seed-bed about middle of April; transplanted, and only a few of the tubers were of a good size. Very few of them were at all touched by the disease, and those few were all white varieties. The plants being too close, they did not give this year so large a crop as the set. I think it is a likely way of extinguishing the disease. W. G."


"Crossburn, Troon, 10th January, 1876.

Dear Sir,—I sowed the seed on a hot bed about the beginning of March, and planted out in a garden, on good horse manure, on the 4th of June, about 1,200 or 1,500 seedlings. I think the ground and the manure had been too strong, as the potatoes, which were not ready to lift till November, were so badly worm-eaten that it was impossible to say much about them; there seemed a great number of varieties amongst them, and a red kind in particular appeared more susceptible to disease than any of the others. Whereas a white kind which bulked well, though small, did not disease at all. I am, yours faithfully,

W. GUTHRIE."