CHAPTER I. 



Some Account of the Appearance of the Disease in Different 

 parts of the, World, and the Means taken to arrest its 

 Progress. 



THE British Government have issued a commission to 

 proceed to Ireland, for the purpose of examining into the 

 causes of the disease. The commission consists of Profes- 

 sors Kane, Lindley and Playfair. Their first report, directed 

 merely towards improper methods of storing the crop, has 

 been published by the Irish government, and distributed by 

 means of the constabulary, through the whole country. 



In Ireland the official inquiry is essentially aided by the 

 important evidence collected by various diligent inquirers, 

 especially by the Royal Irish Agricultural Improvement 

 Society, a most zealous and useful association, and the officers 

 of the Royal Dublin Society. In England the Rev. M. J. 

 Berkeley and Mr. Edward Jolley, are occupied with a mi- 

 nute investigation of the subject for the Horticultural Society, 

 in the mycological and chemical points of view ; and in Scot- 

 land the Agricultural Chemistry Association have put forth 

 a circular inviting the public to subscribe Jive hundred pounds 

 for the expense of an entomologico, botanicr, chemico prac- 

 tical examination of the matter. 



The following is the report above alluded to : 



