815 



tion and Treatment of the Potato Disease,' by Dr. Parkin, presented 

 by the author. 



Mr. T. Burnet, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Mr. F. H. Goulding, of 

 King William Street, Strand, Dr. Farran, of Stradbally, Waterford, 

 Ireland, Mr, J. W. G. Gutch, of Great Portland Street, Marylebone, 

 and Mrs. Riley, of Papplewick, near Nottingham, were elected mem- 

 bers. 



Mr. Reynolds, the treasurer, brought forward the subject of the 

 testimonial presented by the members to Mr. G. E. Dennes, the se- 

 cretary of the society, and bore testimony in warm language to the 

 indefatigable zeal and great services of that gentleman in the cause 

 of science in general, and more particularly in promoting the interests 

 of the society during the many years that he had devoted his time 

 gratuitously to the labours of his office. The testimonial consisted 

 of a portrait of Mr. Dennes, painted in oils, by Mrs. Carpenter, and 

 which he had re-presented to the society, to be placed in their rooms. 



The Chairman and several members concurred fully in the obser- 

 vations of the treasurer. 



The Seceetary returned thanks in suitable terms for the gratifying 

 manner in which his services were appreciated. 



A letter was read from Dr. Parkin, accompanying a copy of his 

 work on the prevention and treatment of the potato disease. It 

 alluded to the value of charcoal as a preventive of the disease, and 

 mentioned some experiments in which the development of carbonic 

 acid, by the mutual decomposition of muriate of soda and carbonate 

 of lime in the soil, was attended with the best results in producing a 

 healthy crop. 



A paper was also read from Mr. W. Taylor, F.L.S., on the same 

 subject. Mr. Taylor appeared to attribute the disease to atmospheric 

 causes, and not to any diminished vitality produced by over-cultiva- 

 tion, and in proof of the latter not being the origin of the disease, he 

 mentioned that the Solanum, or wild potato, was found in America 

 to be as much diseased as the cultivated varieties. 



The Chairman said he hoped it would go forth that the theory at- 

 tributing the disease to the ravages of a particular kind of insect, and 

 which had been promulgated with the most unceasing and unaccount- 

 able pertinacity, was repudiated by every scientific man whose opi- 

 nion was entitled to any weight. Mr. Smee had been challenged to 

 attend their meetings and defend his theory, but he had not done so. 

 He mentioned this subject because the manner in which articles were 

 forced into local newspapers in every part of the kingdom, describing 



