AND ITS DISEASE. 13 



sessed, and he had given his attention to the inves- 

 tigation of the injurious parasite fungi of the king- 

 dom, and he likewise presented a learned report on 

 the causes of blight, mildew and rust in grain, and 

 the discoveries he then made have been fully con- 

 firmed by subsequent scientific investigation. 

 Parasitic fungi are a cause of injury and fina 

 destruction to healthy vegetable matter, as much 

 so as the depredations made by insects, and as to 

 Judge Peters " atmospheric taint," being a cause, it 

 is about as lucid as the opinions of some of the old 

 vegetable Physiologists, in assigning vitiated and 

 extravasated sap as the direct cause of disease. The 

 question behind.it all would be what caused the 

 taint ; and what caused the extravasation of the 

 sap the hearts blood of the vegetable system ? In 

 the first place it might have been from a floating 

 parasite fungi spore, or an infusoria in the atmos- 

 phere, but in that case "tainted" atmosphere would 

 be a misnomer ; and in the second place various 

 causes might be at work through infusoria or fungi 

 to produce extravasated sap and obstruct the natu- 

 ral channels of circulation. Sir Joseph Banks was 

 correct in his fungi theory, as was proven by his 

 and other practical tests a discovery conferring no 

 doubt lasting advantages to the grain growing inter- 

 ests of the kingdom of Great Britain. The tree or 

 the plant, to continue its growth and development 

 requires a free and unobstructed circulation of pure 



