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their failure in discovering the cause of the disease, and the total inefi- 

 cacy cf the remedies they proposed, suflBciently prove, that men may 

 be justly celebrated as agricultural chemists and botanists, yet from 

 want of experience in practical agriculture, may be unable to instruct 

 the farmer in his profession. 



Some persons have remarked that if the disease were atmospheric, it 

 is likely that some change in the atmosphere would have been noticed 

 by meteorologists. In answer to this objection I will say, that epidem- 

 ic diseases have at certain times almost annihilated the human race, yet 

 their approach was never foretold by the savans of the day. Epizootic 

 distempers have at times made sad havoc among the domestic animals, 

 yet no person has ever announced their advent, nor detected any change 

 in the atmosphere during their prevalence. 



To those who say that " Nature's laws are unchangeable," I will say 

 that the laws of Nature, like all laws, divine and human, are subject to 

 infraction ; if such were not the case, we would have none of these 

 terrible phenomena, which sometimes convulse the earth, the ocean, and 

 the sky. 



Some persons who are better skilled in raising objections, than in 

 cultivating potatoes say, "had we not thunder and lightning since the 

 creation oi the world, and how has the potato escaped until 1845 ? To 

 these I reply that we have had air and water since the creation, and are 

 they not indispensable to animal life ? Yet at certain times, these ack- 

 nowledged blessings have been the means of conveying the most deadly 

 plagues, to destroy man and beast. 



The appearance of the rot in hot houses, from which places rain and 

 dews are excluded, was thought to be a proof that the disease did not 

 originate in the atmosphere ; but a little reflection will enable us to per- 

 ceive that this circumstance affords no proof against our opinion. The 

 atmosphere pervades all space, and particles of the poisonous acid can 

 easily enter through the roofs of hothouses. It is also a fact that the 

 plants in hothouses are generally watered daily, with rain water, and this 

 latter fact is sufficient to explain the mystery. 



The potato rot has destroyed more human beings than the present 

 war, with all its terrible engines of destruction. He who discovers the 

 cause of the disease, and provides a remedy, confers a benefit on agri- 

 culture which is not easily estimated. 



