889 



near Colerainc, in June, 1839, and it has been continued under 

 euUivation ever since, by raising two or three sets from seeds. These 

 plants appear to decline during the third year, when they would 

 probably die out if not renewed from seeds, though this may depend 

 considerably on the rather dry situation where they are planted in the 

 garden. 



A very large portion of the fliOrets constantly prove barren, but 

 fertile seeds occur sparingly, and are to be found when carefully 

 looked for. These facts, although calculated to strengthen the idea 

 of C. Forsteri being an original species, are not by any means in 

 themselves sufficient to prove it so, because, every observing cultiva- 

 tor must be aware, that hybrids produced between plants which are 

 supposed to be specifically distinct, do occasionally produce fertile 

 seeds. A stronger argument against C. pratensis being one of the 

 parents, would probably be, that C. Forsteri does not partake in any 

 degree of the extensively creeping root of the former species. 



D. Moore. 



Glasnevin, June 16, 1847. 



Tlie Cholera versus the VastatoTi or an Entomologist in the Potato-field. 



" TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES. 



" Sir, — As your journal has contained a number of articles upon the 

 potato disease, in which it has been attributed to the attacks of Aphides, 

 I beg to request the insertion in your paper of the following obsen^ations 

 relative to its re-appearance, at a moment when the generally healthy 

 appearance of the crops and the singular absence of Aphides might 

 induce a false security and lead to irremediable evils ; and which are 

 an abstract of a paper read by me at the Linnean Society, on Tuesday, 

 the 15th inst. ; my object being to disprove the assertion which has 

 been circulated by Mr. Alfred Smee, with so much activity, that the 

 disease has been entirely produced by the attacks of a species of 

 Aphis. 



" The arguments I adduce in opposition to this theory are — 



"1. That the Aphis which has been found upon the potato, and 

 thence considered as the cause of the disease, is neither a newly 

 created nor a newly imported species, but was well known long before 

 the disease in question appeared. 



" 2. That the disease itself has not been known until the last iew 

 years. 



