My dear Sir.

I duly received your esteemed letter of 17^th. Inst, and post card, and always wonder at the length to which you write me.¹

I can quite understand the difficult position of ministers in such cases, and I shall not be disappointed if Mr Farrer can make nothing of it.² I may say however that Mr Cave M.P. (Liberal) for Barnstaple has seen these new varieties, and I have no doubt would strongly urge the Government to assist in the work. It was he in fact who put my letter in the “Field”.³

My statement that “the plant ought to be grown from its seed each fourth year” was too strong—that course would be too troublesome in the present state of agriculture.⁴ What I should have said was; that in my experience, the yield of the plant in seed and tubers, was, in the second and third years of life, much larger than in the first, fourth, and fifth years.

The crossing, this year was a complete failure. I had made elaborate preparations, but the varieties selected for the purpose (and all other varieties but two) failed to produce fruit.

I shall try to put my ideas into shape regarding varieties wearing out, and try to have them printed in the “Pall Mall Gazette” or other paper, which would save you from reading manuscript.

I remain My dear Sir | most respectfully yours | James Torbitt