OPEN LETT Eames 
A REPLY; 
AT the close of a review of one of my papers in the GAZETTE, Januaty 
1898, p. 67, there is a statement which reflects on me in such a way that 
silence would virtually imply admission of the charges. I am thereiore 
obliged, albeit reluctantly, to make answer. This statement is as follows: 
“There is a curious omission of reference to the researches of Dr. H. L. Rue 
sell on this disease, some of which have already been published, as well 
those unpublished, of which Dr. Smith was fully cognizant. We reserve 
ther comment on this matter until the publication of Dr. Russell's paper, 
which advance sheets have reached us.” In general it is wisdom to heat 
both sides of an argument and to know something about the merits of a case 
before pronouncing judgment. I am satisfied that had the reviewer take 
this ordinary precaution the above criticism would never have been wrilt® 
and certainly never printed. Under the circumstances, I must beg to make 
an explanation, : d 
My own studies of the parasite which causes the black or brown ee 
turnips, cabbages, and allied plants, began in the fall of 1896, and have ra 
continued uninterruptedly to date. During this time I have alluded si 
subject or spoken at length upon it in seven public addresses, viz., before — 
Massachusetts Horticultural Society in Boston, March 189 ben 
Washington Botanical Seminar early in 1897; before the W pepe : 
logical Society, May 1897; before Section G. of the A. A. A. 5. # a 
August 1897; before the Rochester Academy of Sciences, October a 
before the Society for Pl d Physiology at Ithaca, Decc — 
y for Plant Morphology an ysiology sew at Sule 
ber 1897; and, finally, before the Peninsula Horticultural Society went inl? 
Hill, Md., January 1898. Notices of a number of these ee a 
newspapers and journals. During the same time I have Pe be Blt 
articles on this organism: first, an abstract of the address before 
cal Society of Washington ;* second, a long paper in the C | 
Sakteriologie, published in three parts, July 7, August 18, Sep . Farmes H 
1897 ;? and finally, from the U.S. Department of Agricul the disea® — 
Bulletin,’ describing the results of field studies and showing how a 
* Science, 5 : 963. June 18, 1897. 
Zand s 
3° : 284, 408, 478. pi. 7. yard 
3 No. 68, January 8, 18908. i 
