re ‘ — Miscellaneous Intelligence: 281 
8. Supposed New Planet, (L’Institut, No. 648, June, 1846.)—At a 
session of the French Academy of Sciences, June 1, 1846, M. Lever- - 
rier read a memoir in which he states that after a full discussion of the 
subject, he is satisfied that it is impossible to represent the motions of 
the planet Uranus, except by supposing the existence of another planet 
beyond Uranus, and at twice its mean distance. ‘The heliocentric lon- 
gitude of this new planet, January 1, 1847, he gives at 325°, a place 
which he thinks will not be in error ten degrees. 
Ue A 
ta _ VIL. Miscenuangous INTELLIGENCE. 
1. The Potato Disease—As the season approaches when the rav- 
im ages of this disease generally make their appearance, it is desirable to 
____ know how far investigations already entered into, have proceeded to- 
- wards the detection of the cause of such an evil, and the suggestion of 
a remedy. Little has as yet been done on any organized plan in this 
‘country. In Europe the case has been very different. In Holland 
and Belgium a committee was first appointed to collect facts calculated 
to throw light on the nature of the disease. In one of the Dutch prov- 
‘ces, Groningen, a separate commission was appointed for the same 
In Germany, Liebig among others has turned his attention to the 
Potato, and has lately published some observations on its nitrogenous 
Constituents, : ae 
_ Anumber of the French philosophers, both alone, and under the 
_ auspices of the Central Society of Agriculture, have also attended to 
the subject. M. Payen has lately: published. three or four reports con- 
taining the results of elaborate microscopic and chemical researches. 
; _ The English government sent a commission to Ireland, of three dis- 
Unguished ‘scientific men, with directions to obtain as much information 
8 possible on the nature and extent of the disease. In Scotland origi 
nated the most extended scheme of all. ‘The subject was taken up in 
_ 4S'several branches as it is connected with botany, meteorology, ento- 
mology, and chemistry. Each branch was referred to a competent 
; Person, and the investigation is still in progress. 
-, 18 Not as yet even certainly determined jin what form the disease 
first attacks the plant: A great number of observers have considered 
that it is first seen in patches of dark colored fungi on the leaves, thence 
Sradually Spreading down to the tubers. Dr. Ferguson in Paris, and 
Several others in England, think that they have detected the sporules 
~ the fungus passing down through the stem in the ordinary circula- 
Hon of sap. But there are well authenticated instances where the 
Potato tops have ietinined green and flourishing while the tubers were 
such diseased ; it cannot therefore be said with certainty that the dis- 
— first appears as a fungus on the leaves. 
