My dear Sir,

I have now the honour and pleasure to report progress.¹

I have planted six acres new twice-crossed varieties of the potato, in place of eleven acres planted last year: this decrease will keep the expenditure within the limit.

For the purpose of crossing, I have planted some of the best tubers of some of the best and most dissimilar twice crossed varieties of 1878 and 1879, and in regard to this, I would wish to ask, may I rely on the pollen living a few days or a few weeks after having been collected, or must I use it immediately after collection?

Also, I have coming forward 5.000 seedlings grown from seeds of twice crossed varieties, and 1,000 seedlings grown from seeds of seedlings obtained from twice crossed varieties (perhaps thrice crossed, as they are grown in close proximity) Having all the means for growing these seedlings on hand, it would have saved but little restricting their number.

They are growing vigorously and I am protecting them against enemies much better than ever before.

They are beautiful, almost all I have looked at, as round as billiard balls—but they are only the size of peas as yet. In a few days I hope to commence planting them out into the field.

Beyond this I have induced some 14 Landowners to grow in the aggregate some 14 acres for me, the conditions being that they charge me nothing, and return to me one half the crop, and if this process of dissemination can be carried out on those terms for three or four years, we may be all repaid, as Mr Caird says, for our expenditure of time and money.²

I am my dear Sir, as always, most respectfully and faithfully yours | James Torbitt