146 MICROSCOPIC FUNGI. 



oontained in a letter addressed to Dr. Bellmgham, 

 and quoted by the Eev. M. J. Berkeley,* leaves no 

 doubt of its identity : — " During the months of 

 July and August (1844), we had repeated and 

 heavy showers, with oppressive heat, and an at- 

 mosphere strongly charged with electricity.' To- 

 wards the close of the month of August I observed 

 the leaves to be marked with black spots, as if ink 

 had been sprinkled over them. They began to 

 wither, emitting a peculiar, offensive odour j and 

 before a fortnight the field, which had been singu- 

 larly luxuriant, and almost rank, became arid and 

 dried up, as if by a severe frost. I had the pota- 

 toes dug out during the month of September, when 

 about two-thirds were either positively rotten, par- 

 tially decayed and swarming with worms, or spotted 

 with brownish-coloured patches, resembling flesh 

 that had been frost-bitten. These parts were soft 

 to the touch, and upon the decayed potatoes I 

 observed a whitish substance like mould." 



Although this disease made its first appearance, 

 in the middle of August, 1845, in the Isle of Wight, 

 it had already appeared in Belgium in the same 

 year, a month previously; and although it may 

 have been noticed in other British localities in 

 1844, it was known in Canada and in St. Helena in 

 the same year to a far greater extent, and in Liege 

 as early a,s 1842. There are, therefore, good 



* Joumal of Horticultural Society of London, vol. L p. 11. 



