[33] A disease called the _Curl_ appeared in the potato in Lancashire in
1764. It was in that Shire the potato was first planted in England; and
we are told the Curl appeared in those districts of it in which it was
first planted. The nature of the disease is indicated by its name. The
stalk became discoloured and stunted almost from the beginning of its
growth; it changed its natural healthy green for a sickly greenish
brown, the leaves literally curling like those of that species of
ornamental holly known as the "screw-leaved." The plant continued to
grow, and even to produce tubers, but they never attained any
considerable size, and from their inferior quality could not be used for
food. The Curl appeared in Ireland about the year 1770, where it caused
much loss, as we find a large quantity of grain was imported for food
about that period. Isolated cases of the Curl were not unfrequent in
this country long after it ceased to cause alarm to the farmer. I have
seen many such cases, especially where potatoes were planted on lea. On
examining the _set_ beneath a plant affected with Curl, I invariably
found it had not rotted away as was usual with those sets that produced
healthy plants.
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