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10. Of the plants infected (if any), about what proportion, by weight, of the tubers was infected? Nearly all.
11. What was the average weight of tubers yielded by a seed Cannot say.
12. Which do you believe gives the largest crop, the seed or set? Cannot say.
13. Supposing all seedling plants which had become infected by the disease to be destroyed year after year, and only those which had absolutely resisted it to be propagated from the tuber, what is your opinion as to the possibility of extinguishing the disease by steady persistence in this line of action? Cannot say.
14. Is it your opinion that such researches should be left to the unaided efforts of individuals? Have not formed any opinion.
- December 9th, 1875.
Sir,—I hold no land. I am a cotter. The seed was sown in a close sheltered garden about 1st May, and a long frosty drought kept it from germinating. I had lost hope of it ever growing, so you see my faith is less than the small potato seed, which is less than a grain of mustard seed. When it showed signs of life I watered it when requisite. As it came up very thick I transplanted some of it when small, which was better than the other, some of the haulm was two feet high and proportionably thick and strong. My opinion is, if early sown, there would be a fair crop the first year.
There seems to be 4 or 5 kinds in mine, of different shapes and colours. I gave part of the seed to over twenty farmers, but the majority of them paid very little attention to it. But if it has done no other good, it has taught them their first lesson, and they may become apt scholars.
1. Close by various early kinds that were diseased.
3. Yearly, and sets had disease a month before the leaves of seedlings were spotted.
5. Ill ventilated.
6. Farm yard manure.
7. Some transplanted, others not, none full size.
