Proceedings of the Society. xxt. 



> A Special Commission, under tbe presidency of our colleague 

 Mr. Bojer, was appointed by tbe Governor, and Planters, Physi- 

 cians and Chemists were requested to be Members of it. 



1 Here a great difference of opinions necessarily arose respect- 

 ing the cause to which each ascribed the disease, and also res- 

 pecting its nature, the influence its effects might exercise upon 

 the next crop, and the remedy to be applied toihe di^easeti cane. 



» On the other hand, beforethe publication of the Reporiof the 

 Commission appointed by the Government, the same question 

 had been started in the Colonial newspapers, which had pub- 

 lished in tiieir columns various observations made in several 

 parts of tbe Island, on a subject interesting in so high a degree 

 the whole community. 



« The study of tbe disease thus became the object of general 

 attention, and tbe topic of the day. 



1 Some explained it by the eCfect of cold, which, in their 

 opinion, produced a contraction of the organs towards tbe upper 

 pan of the plant, prevented the free circulation of the vital 

 juices ani compelled them even to remain in a state of stagna- 

 tien ; thence strangulation, resulting from the induration of tbe 

 leaves, which fell from the plant in a slate of complete putre- 



f faction. 

 > To remedy the evil, ihey proposed to cut off the top of tbe 

 cane and to make langitudinal incisions, so as to afford a pas'- 

 sage to the impeded sap, or to promote the shooting of the buds. 



» But those who tried these operalious, confessed that they 

 had produced no satisfactory result. 



> Indeed tbe disease continued with great intensity during the 

 winter, and diminished in violence only towards tbe latter en^ 

 of the cold season and at the beginning of summer. 



> Others were inclined to see in the diseased can* a symptom 

 of wasting and organic vTeakness which they compared to ccn. 

 sumption or marasmus, wbicb is sometimes seen in irao, ;:nd 



