33 



lock away my Agricultural Chemistry, my Liebeg and my 

 Botany Book." I have long since done so, but I have vain- 

 ly waited for my betters to instruct me as to causes, deve- 

 lopment &c. and have even to regret that practical Brother 

 Planters are loath to record the effects of experiment. There 

 seems a confirmed dread of what is called " rushing into 

 print" and alas ! too many remember the old saying, " Oh ! 

 that my enemy would write a book." The world is only an 

 extended system of Brotherhood and if every body is to fear 

 the remarks of his neighbours the sooner we all become 

 Hermits the better. Let those who work for the common 

 good remember that jealousy is generally at the bottom of 

 rude criticism. A professor of an art naturally wishes to 

 maintain his dearly bought rights, but does not resent un- 

 skilled interference and like the honest British workman and 

 his money is always generously inclined and will frequent- 

 ly give up gratuitously the benefits derivable from his 

 researches. 



Look for example to the case of the inventor of the 

 Microphone. An invention which will extend almost super- 

 natural powers to man, has been gratuitously presented to 

 science. I ask again how many Planters have read of the 

 discoveries and researches of Mr. Worthington Smith ? As 

 a fungologist of great eminence science is indebted to him 

 for his elucidation of the wonderful process of hibernation 

 of the Resting or chrysalis spore of the Endophyte which 

 constitutes the Potato Disease (Peronospora Jnfestans.) 



For years this Fungus had been under investigation 

 and doubtless much useless attention had been given to 

 what casually appeared to be Epiphytic in its nature, but it 

 was reserved for Mr. Worthington Smith to demonstrate 

 that such was merely a superficial appearance connected with 

 the incipient stages of the disease a fact which he proved 

 beyond a doubt by actually developing artificially by th 







