866 



of the different forms of carbon (charcoal), the beneficial operation of 

 which appeared to be explained on the supposition that some delete- 

 rious and gaseous substance has been absorbed and neutralized. No 

 other cause could account for the success which has attended its em- 

 ployment. 



The writer argued that it was not as Mr. Jasper Rogers and other 

 writers conclude, because charcoal contains within itself that carbo- 

 naceous principle which restores to the plant that of which it has 

 been deprived (by constitutional debility), that the benefit derived 

 from the employment of this substance is to be ascribed, but simply 

 to its antiseptic or specific properties, and by its neutralizing some 

 gaseous and deleterious substance present in the soil. Dr. P. con- 

 siders this conclusion important, not only as regards the present cus- 

 tom, but also with respect to the operation of manures, more particu- 

 larly putrescent ones, at ordinary times. Hence, his object in 

 directing the attention of botanists and agriculturists to this point at 

 the present moment. ^ — G. E. D. 



An adjourned meeting, constituted for the pui-pose of investigating 

 the potato-disease, and of more than ordinary public importance, in 

 relation to the increasing high price of food, was held on Friday 

 evening, at the rooms of the London Botanical Society, Bedford- 

 street, Strand; J. Reynolds, Esq., Treasurer of the Society, in the 

 chair. 



The Chairman opened the business by calling on the Secretary, 

 Mr. G. E. Dennes, to read the minutes of the last meeting, amongst 

 which was a resolution setting forth that the Society wished it to be 

 distinctly understood that ihey were unanimous in their opinion of 

 the absurdity of the theories brought forward as to the evil produced 

 to the potato crop by insects, and more particularly by the Aphis 

 vastator. 



The Secretaky then read a communication from Mr. Jasper W. 

 Rogers, C.E., presenting to the Society two essays, published this 

 month by him, on the potato disease, its causes and prevention, and 

 which were presented to the Government of Ireland previous to the 

 labours of the Potato Commissioners, in 1845, and submitted to the 

 Royal Dublin Society, and the Royal Agricultural Society of Eng- 

 land, in 1846. The communication stated that Mr. Rogers's object 

 was not to detract from Dr. Parkins's merit or originality of idea ; 



