146 MICROSCOPIC FCJNGI. 



contaiued in a letter addressed to Dr. Bellingham, 

 and quoted by tlie Rev. M. J. Berkeley,* leaves no 

 doubt of its identity : — '^ During the months of 

 July and August (1844), we bad repeated and 

 heavy showers, with oppressive heat, and an at- 

 mosphere strongly charged with electricity. To- 

 wards the close of the month of August I observed 

 the leaves to be marked with black spots, as if ink 

 had been sprinkled over them. They began to 

 wither, emitting a peculiar, offensive odour ; and 

 before a fortnight the field, which had been singu- 

 larly luxuiiant, and almost rank, became arid and 

 di'ied up, as if by a severe frost. I had the pota- 

 toes dug out during the month of September, when 

 about two-thirds were either positively rotten, par- 

 tially decayed and swarming with worms, or spotted 

 with brownish-coloured patches, resembling flesh 

 that had been frost-bitten. These parts were soft 

 to the touch, and upon the decayed potatoes I 

 observed a whitish substance like mould. ■'^ 



Although this disease made its fii^st appearance, 

 in the middle of August, 1845, in the Isle of Wight, 

 it had already appeared in Belgium in the same 

 year, a month previously; and although it may 

 have been noticed in other British localities in 

 1844, it was known in Canada and in St. Helena in 

 the same year to a far greater extent, and in Liege 

 as early as 1842. There are^ therefore, good 



* Jouraal of Horticultural Society of London, vol. i, p. 11. 



