Genre:

Reportage, Spoof

Subjects:

Railways, Commerce, Disease, Medical Treatment, Government

    Implicitly likening the burgeoning potato disease to the railway mania, reports that the potato disease has spread to the 'Provincial Stock Exchanges' where the worse affected 'plants' (i.e. railway schemes) are those 'grown on chalk formation'. Explains that the 'rottenness commences with the Stags, and rapidly spreads to the Brokers' and that 'scarce one good scheme in ten can now be found'. Adds that the 'species called the "Director"' lacks the 'bottom to endure the very stormy weather we have had lately' and that 'shutting up [plants] in stone jugs' did not stop the progress of the disease. Recommends the appointment of government commissions to 'separate the good from the rotten stock', and that 'ports should be opened' to import 'honesty'