38 REPORT — 1853. 



dotiia raiiffiferiiia. Along with the Lichens, the various dyes which they furnished by 

 the action of different reagents were exhibited. Prof. Balfour also exhibited speci- 

 mens of Pohjpod'unn alpestre, which he stated was common in the Scotch highlands, 

 although only recently pointed out as a British plant by H. C. Watson, Esq. 



On the Effect of Sulphate of Lime upon Vegetable Substances. 

 By Chevalier Claussen. 



About six weeks since I was engaged in making various experiments on the effect 

 of sulphate of lime upon vegetable substances. A portion of the substances then 

 used by me was thrown carelessly aside, and upon returning to my experiments about a 

 fortnight afterwards, I was surprised to find that decomposition had not taken place in 

 those parts of the vegetables which had been subjected to the action of the sulphate, 

 while those which had not been so treated were completeh' decayed. Among the 

 articles experimented upon were a number of potatoes, each of which was affected by 

 the prevalent disease ; some of these remain sound to the present daj', the others 

 have some time since completely rotted awaj'. Subsequently, I procured some more 

 potatoes, and also some beet-roots, the former being, as far as I could judge, all 

 diseased. I divided the potatoes into three portions. One lot I placed in a vessel 

 with a weak solution of sulphuric acid, and from thence I placed them in a solution 

 of weak lime-water. In the second lot the process was reversed, that is to say, the 

 potatoes were first placed in the lime-water, and then in the acid. The third lot was 

 left untouched. Ten days afterwards I examined the potatoes, and found, as I 

 expected, that the potatoes which had not been treated with the sulphate were rapidly 

 decaying; those which had been first placed in the solution of lime and then in the 

 acid were more nearly decomposed ; while those which had been treated in the mode 

 first described remained as sound as when first taken in hand. Upon being cut open 

 the diseased part of the potatoes was not found to have spread internally, and the 

 flavour of the root was in no degree affected by the application of the process, nor do 

 I think that its germinating power was injured by the effect of the sulphate. The 

 effect upon the beet-roots was similar to that produced upon the potatoes, and which 

 would seem to be somewhat analogous to that of galvanizing metals, viz. protecting 

 the substances from the effect of atmospheric agencies. 1 may add, that muriatic 

 and other acids have been employed by me on other occasions with equal success, the 

 only agents required appearing to be those which will most readily produce a sulphate 

 in contact with the substances required to be preserved. As at present it does not. 

 appear that any means can be successfullj' adopted to prevent the potato from beco- 

 ming diseased while in the ground and arriving at maturity, it would certainly be of 

 immense advantage if anything could be discovered by the use of which the roots 

 when taken up could be prevented from that absolute decay and irreparable loss to 

 which potatoes affected by the disease are liable. The results which 1 have described 

 seem to me to point to the possibility of arresting this loss. How far the plan sug- 

 gested may be practicable or applicable upon a large scale, my present very pressing 

 and numerous engagements have hitherto prevented me from ascertaining. I do not 

 think that any insuperable difficulty exists with respect to the application of the pro- 

 cess. The acid employed by me was very weak, about 1 part to 200 of water; the 

 lime-water was about the consistency of milk. The materi;ils are not therefore 

 expensive; and when the value of the crop to be saved is taken into consideration, 

 it would be a matter well worthy of being tested by some of those extensive growers 

 of potatoes in the county in which the British Association is now holding its sittings. 

 For my own part, I should be most happy, if by any suggestion of mine I had merely 

 been the instrument of directing the attention of scientific men to the subject of the 

 possibility of preserving from total destruction a vegetable so valuable and so indispen- 

 sable as the potato. 



On the Cause of the Transmission of Electricity along Conductors generally, 

 and particularly as applied to the Electric Telegraph Wires. By the 

 Rev. Thomas Exley, A.3I. 

 From phgenoraena, I infer the existence of an element in great abundance, which I 



