1 154 1

the lime-huſbandry is but partially practiſed, ſuch as the hills and uplands, ſcarce any ſuch thing as the curl is known. There is one circumſtance in theſe upland ſituations that may operate as a preventive of this diſeaſe; that is, the nature of the ſoil, which is for the moſt part moſſy. This idea gains conſiderable ſtrength, from obferving the practice of the Lancaſhire planters; ſome of whom ſend their favourite kinds to the mofſy grounds to recover, after they have caught the diſtemper.

The Author of the Eaſt Lothian Survey, who in the courſe of that work has difplayed much learning and ingenuity, takes notice of the circum- ſtance of potatoes not being ſubject to the curl in the hill grounds. His expreſſion is(for we uſe his own words) ² fingular that this diſtemper(the curl) is unknown ia the higher diſtrict ¹ of the country, at an altitude of 400 feet above the level of the ſea.“* He goes on to reafon upon the probable caufe of this difference, and ſeems to aſcribe it to the froſt ſetting in e fituations, and deſtroying the baulm of zhe potatoe before it is completely ripe. The inference he draws from them is certainly a wrong one; for he ſeems to imagine that, in order to raiſe the beſt ſeed-potatoes, be taken up before they are ripe. Experience, however, theory; for it is found that the more completely the bulbs or ſeeds of an plant are matured, the more perfect- are put into the earth as ſeed.

It is evident that the Author has aſcribed that to altitude which is entirely to the nature of the ſoil, as it is now known that in even the loweſt ſituations, potatoes do not curl upon moſſy ſoils; while, on the contrary, the curl has lately begun to appear even in the moſt elevated ſituations, where the lands are in good heart, and have been much manured with lime, coal, or wood-aſhés.

From theſe circumſtances, it would appear that ſoil moderate degree of acidity are unfavourable to the curl in potatoes; and that in every ſituation where there is much calcarious earth or alkaline matter in the ſoil, the diſeaſe is more frequent.

At the ſame time that we are diſpoſed to think that lime in its ſimple

e curl in potatoes, we entertain a ver different opinion of it when made into a compoſt with earth and dung. If the compoſt has been well mixed, and the quantity of lime not too great,

iti pon the ſubſtances with which it is mixed: when employed in this way it will be found a good manure, and, in nine caſes out of ten, no curl will appear.

It ought therefore to be lald down as a rule Potatoe-crops, it fhould always be previ earth, dung, or ſome of the putreſcent

owing 8

s which contain a