350 [SENiTE 



attained. The danger has, in the minds of all, become so pressing, 

 that a feeling is every where expressed that sometliing must be done 

 or the potato bids fair to become extinct. 



Practice has as yet utterly failed in accounting for the disease, and 

 has been compelled to call in the aid of science, in the hope that by 

 the joint action of theory and experience, some clue may be obtained 

 to this mysterious subject. Scientific men in various countries have 

 accordingly turned their attention to it, and in most cases have been 

 aided either by their respective governments, or by agricultural soci- 

 eties. 



Among the first on the continent, was a commission in Holland and 

 Belgium, for the purpose of collecting facts whick should throw light 

 upon the nature of the disease. 



There was also a commission appointed in the province of Gronin- 

 gen, which made a report " on the disease affecting the potato in the 

 Netherlands." In this report the commission gives 



1st, What are the causes and what is the nature of the disease 1 



2d, What are the remedies 1 



3d, The use to be made of the diseased potatoes. 



In Germany, Liebig, among others, has turned his attention to the 

 potato, and has lately published some observations on its nitrogenous 

 constituents. 



A number of the French philosophers, both alone and under the 

 auspices of the Central Society of Agriculture have also attended to 

 the subject. M. Payen lias lately published three or four reports con- 

 taining the results of elaborate microscopic and chemical researches. 

 Boussingault, Persoz and others, have also made public their opinions. 



Of what has been done in our own country, during the present sea- 

 son, I am not well informed. I have seen occasional articles from in- 

 dividuals, giving their private views,, but do not know if there has 

 been any concerted system of action. The report published last year, 

 by Mr. Ellsworth, the Commissioner of Patents, was a valuble docu- 

 ment, and is well known on this side of the Atlantic. 



In Britain and Ireland, a great portion of the best scientific and 

 practical men are now uniting their efforts for the alleviation, if not 

 for the remedy, of this national evil. Ireland, more than any other 



