114 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMEPwICAN INSTITUTE. 



Eahly Pears and Apples. 



Mr. George Woodworth, Norwich, Ct. — "Will the club name 

 the three best earl}-- pears for the New York market? Also three 

 best early apples ?" 



Mr. William S. Carpenter said the best one probably is a new 

 sort, called Merry's Seedling, originating in Ohio, and not j'et in 

 market. It will be earlier and better than the Madeline. I 

 would name Doyenne d'Ete and Sterling. 



Dr. Isaac M. Ward named Manning's Elizabeth and Bloodgood. 



Of early apples, Mr. Carpenter named Early Joe, Red Astrichan 

 and Primate. 



Mr. William Lawton said the Early Bough should not be over- 

 looked, as it is one of the most regular bearers of good fruit we 

 have. 



Potato Disease. 



Mr. Lyman Eead said he believed the potato disease was first 

 developed in Scotland, in 1832, and in this country in 1844, or at 

 least the first report of it was made by Dr. Jackson, in that yesLT, 

 who attributed the disease to fungus. In this opinion Mr. Tesch- 

 macher concurs, and so do many of the scientific men of Europe. 

 At a later day, Dr. Smee found potatoes in England infected with 

 microscopical animal life, the same as ]Mr. Reed supposes, he has 

 found in every case where he has made an examination. In 1853, 

 1854 and 1855, the same thing was discovered by a scienlific gov- 

 ernmental commission in Russia. Whenever the tubers are ex- 

 posed to an atmosphere sufliciently warm to cause them to sprout 

 the infusoria are produced in such myriads as to affect the vitality 

 of the vines. He exhibited some tubers which were sealed up in 

 glass jars, when apparently in a most sound and healthy condition, 

 which are now covered with something which appears like dust or 

 mold, and which is shown by the microscope to be a mass of ani- 

 mal life. This, Mr. Read believes to be the origin of the disease 

 which produces the potato rot. Man}'- persons have supposed it 

 to be an atmospheric disease, but this Mr. Read doubts because 

 the disease did not prevail formerly when the atmosphere was the 

 same as it is now. Vines used to grow green and vigorous until 

 killed by frost. 



Dr. Ward here inquired why. if the disease is caused, b}^ insects, 

 always present, it should prevail one season and not another ? 



Mr. Read answered that it was owing to the state of the air or 

 soil which promotes the life of these infinitessimal mites more 



