624 [Assembly 



The leans have had their leaves nlackened, and their stems shrivelled 

 by apparently the same cause ; and the rotteness in the turnip may 

 safely be ascribed to the same influence. The products of the flower 

 garden have not escaped the affection, for the leaves of the Peony 

 seem to us to have suffered from the same cause. Even forest trees 

 are affected, as the appearance of the Balsam Poplar sufficiently in- 

 dicates. And wild plants have been observed to suffer in a similar 

 manner, as in the common Fern. So far as we can discern, the mys- 

 terious cause of this universal affection is very much " like the pes- 

 tilence that walketh in darkness, and that wasteth at noon-day." 



SPECIFIC MANURES. 



1st. Every description of crop requires an ingredient essential to 

 its production; and without it, such crop cannot be raised in per- 

 fection. 



2d. If soil does not contain in itself what is essential to the growth 

 of the plant upon it, it must be supplied through the medium of one 

 or other of the specific manures. 



3d. The essential substance necessary to be added to the soil may 

 be discovered by consulting the nature and properties of the plant to 

 be raised. 



THE POTATO. 



Little intormation is communicated regarding the flowers, which 

 had generally decayed in the natural course before the disease had 

 extended itself. With respect to the appearance of the stem and fo- 

 liage, the reporters all concur, though expressing themselves differ- 

 ently, in describing the leaves as presenting the appearance which 

 they generally do, after having been injured by severe frost. In ma- 

 ny cases the disease was observed in the tubers, while the growth of 

 the foliage was unchecked, and its appearance unchanged ; and in 

 many it was virulent where the stem and leaves appeared the heal- 

 thiest and most luxuriant. Statements to this effect will be found in 

 the Appendix, from sixteen observers. 



Repeated statements are made of good and healthy tubers being 

 found in a mass of rotten ones. 



It is an almost universal opinion that the disease first appears in 

 the stems and foliage of the potato, where it is indicated by the 

 growth of certain Fungi j but the experience of the present year will 



