The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-09-28 00:00:00

WILLIAM ANDREWS, TA. R. A.,
Chairman Natural History Department, Royal
Dublin Society.
Ashton, Monkstown, County Dublin, Sept. 17.

reseal ,

It is to be regretted that the conditions of the prize offered
by Lord Cathcart, through the Royal Agricultural Society,
for the best essay on the potato disease cannot be made
known before November, as the crop will then be gathered
and opportunities for observation passed. It is desirable that
some indication should be given of the various points on
which careful observation and experiment are required, for
theorise are worthless unless based on actual observation of
the phenomena of the disease. In the absence of inch
directions, I will venture to point out what Inquiries
are necessary to Illustrate the nature, causes, and
mean. of prevention of the potato disease. Much
valuable labour has already been expended by scien-
tific men on Inquiries into the nature and origin of
this disease. Dr. Lyon Playfair ("Lectures" to the Royal
Aoricultural Society, iStYtattributes Its origin to chymical
changes in the nitrogenous elements of the potato similar to
those of fermentation • the Roe. M. J. Berkeley !" Observa-
tions, Botanical and ihydological, on the PotttO Murrain'
—Journal 011ie Horticultural Society for 1846) to the growth
of the parasitic fungus Borrytis Infestane in the tissues of
the plant Mr. Alfred Ismee The Potato Plant; its rRe and
Prooerties, together oritA the Causer of the Present Malady;
1546), to the ravages of a parasitic insect, the Aphis Vastator ;
and the successful competitors for the Royal Agricultural
Society's prize Phillips and Lena to over cultivation and
atmospheric influences.
. .

li-specting its nature. however, there appears to 1,3 littlo
ditto ence of t pini..n at the tresent limo . for, ruder every
circumstance and In every place where it haa been studied,
the presence of a parasitic fungus has been detected, and no
other appearance has been no constantly present. But it is
quite possible that further observation may prove that the
fungus Is purely adventitious, and dependent on • morbid
state of the juices of the plant which favours its growth or
even Its spontaneous generation rwo lines of inquiry are here
opened—firstly, la the clients° epidemic, and does it attack
healthy and sickly plants indiscriminately, as appears to be
the cue this year or, secondly, is it endemic, and does it
attack those plants only which are predisposed to its
ravages by some exciting carte, as appears to be the case in
what are called good seasonal Experiments alone can
prove whether healthy plants can be infected by contact
with disease., ones, or if plants already infected will arrive
at maturity if the fungus is destroyed by pernsitnia,i or re-
m..ved by hand .picking ae soon as it makes Its appt.taranc,
On the other hunt, lithe disease is endemic and attacks
' only plants In a morbid state, the causes of that state re-
quire Investigation, and inquiries must be Instituted into
the effects of soils, manures, and drainage ; into the atmos-
pheric I fluences of heat, light, electricity, and moisture on
the cultivation of the pototo plait; also into the accidents
Incident to it. as the attacks of insect, and the mechanical
Injuries produced by winds and rain. In all these inquiries
it must he borne in mend that the potato in Its natireal state
is the other vegetables, and grow. to proragate its epeassi
by flowers and seeds, and that the tuber is merely an uncle r-
mund stem, very much exaggerated by cultivation, butte
no way essential to the wellbeing of the plant.
The remedies for the disease will necessarily depend on Its
came but, until that Is found out, we have the analogy of
the vine and hop anti other diseases to guide us in our ex-
perimental inques In seeking for them The mortis of
the tuber. for food or seed is alio • matter:of great Imrt,
ince, and must In onr present state Of knowledge ot the
Masons depend on emplrldens.

There are many other matters worthy of grave conddies-
tion ; but from what I have already mdd It will be seen what
a wide range the subject presents, sad bow Impossible IS
will be for any one person to treat It taticlactorily. Few
persons can be found who combine the knowledge and ac-
quirements of the botanist, physiologist, chymist, meteoro-
logiet, and practical farmer sußictently well to enable them
to view the subject in all It. bearings, and the result of Lord
Cathcart's prize will probably be as unsatisfactory as it was
on the former °cession, when the Royal Agricultural Society
offered prises for essays on the potato Manse.
It the Society would appoint a committee of scientific
men, or, better still, the Government a commission like that
on the cattle plague, the question might probably obtain a
solution, or some information might be obtained which
would sweep away the many fanciful theories which now
exist, and a safe bailie be lead for further investigations. Lord
cathcart's suggestion that scientific men should send their
papers to the Royal Agricultural Society f.r arrangement
and publication la not likely to lead to any meful results,
as their time is of great value to them, and the ground has
already been gone over and they will prefer to select their
own channels for the publication of any important original
---•.Mea-1 am, Ac.. CHARLES ROBERTS, N.R.C.S.

2, Boltou-row, Mayfair, Sept. 21.