895 



of the fronds of ferns were physiologically identical with buds, and 

 that the history of the development of a fern affords a beautiful exam- 

 ple of the " alternations of generations," first pointed out by Steen- 

 strup, as occurring in the animal kingdom. 



Mr. Andrews said he was much gratified at the pains Mr. Kinahan 

 had taken to bring forward, and to prove, such varieties of character 

 as many of the more common forms of our ferns presented. Geologi- 

 cal characters of country, altitude, exposure or shelter had much 

 effect on the character of growth of plants ; and these views should 

 always be noted by the exploring botanist. Varied were the forms to 

 be met with under that of Lastrea multiflora and L. recurva of New- 

 man, and the Aspidium dilatatum of Hooker. L. recurva, so frequent 

 in the county of Kerry, is considered to be identical with Nephrodium 

 Foenisecii of Madeira. The forms of Cystopteris met with on the 

 limestone rocks of Sligo, and of Clare, were also numerous. The 

 variety of Polystichum, according to Mr. Kinahan, producing gemmae 

 in the axils of the pinnules, was deserving of investigation. The 

 Right Hon. John Wynne, of Haslewood, had cultivated young plants 

 of Woodwardia radicans most successfully, producing the growth from 

 the axils of the pinnules. This was a beautiful fern of Madeira and 

 Portugal. 



Insects causing the Potato Disease. 



Mr. Nuttall read a paper ' On the Insects causing the Potato Dis- 

 ease.' 



Mr. Nuttall observed : — " So much has been said and written on 

 the potato disease of late, that the subject appears to have lost its 

 interest ; but it certainly has not lost its importance. Tt is a subject 

 that I have given much attention to for some time. Early in August 

 last, a letter fi-om me appeared in the papers ; and since then some 

 objections have been raised to my assertion that the disease was 

 caused by insects. I have now two reports, from scientific friends, 

 before me. One appears to look on the drill-harrow as a sort of 

 infernal machine, and is satisfied that I must be wrong, ' as such views 

 have not been adopted by the scientific world ! ' Now, being confi- 

 dent that I am right, I have thought it well to bring my views and 

 reasons for them into this, their camp, to be, by them, extinguished, 

 if false, well knowing that truth is a light that cannot be extinguished. 

 Another objects, * as he has not been able to discover any traces of 

 these insects.' Now, I do not believe that the scientific world is 

 infallible. Some of its members traversed California and Australia, 



