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many of the foremost cryptogamic botanists of Europe, but no one has denied their 
possible identity with Peronospora infestans. 
For more than thirty years our Potato crops have been systematically 
destroyed by two virulent fungi, viz., Peronospora infestans and Fusisporium 
Solani; these two parasites almost invariably work in company with each other, 
they suddenly appear for a few weeks, destroy our crops, and vanish for ten or 
twelve months, then reappear and repeat the work of destruction. I claim for my 
work that it is new, and that it has proved how both these fungi hide and sleep 
through eleven months of the year. As I have kept the resting-spores of both 
parasites alive artificially in decayed Potato leaves in water, in moist air, and in 
expressed diluted juice of horse-dung it conclusively proves to me that the resting- 
spores hibernate naturally in the same manner. The seat of danger from both 
parasites is clearly in dung heaps, ditch sides, and decaying Potato plants. 
Any method of destroying the resting-spores of these pests, or of warding off 
or mitigating their attacks, obviously depends in a great measure upon a full 
knowledge of their life-history. That life-history I have endeavoured to the best - 
of my ability to watch and describe for the Gardeners’ Chronicle, and I am content 
to let the observations stand on their own merits. Sensibly conducted and 
extensive field experiments might probably teach some valuable lessons, but it is 
difficult, if not impossible, for any single individual, whether farmer or botanist, 
to institute and carry out such experiments. 
With these notes I am only too glad to bring the whole subject (as far as 
regards my work upon it) to an end. Any one who feels so disposed, and has the 
time and patience to go over all the experiments and observations again through 
another entire year can clo so.— Worthington G. Smith. 
SSS ESS 
