The Sun.
London, England, 1847-02-08 00:00:00

THE POTATO DISEASE.

On Saturday evening, a conversazione was given by
Profeasor Smee at his residence, No. 7, Finsbury Circus,
at which a considerable number of scientific gentlemen
present. The subject which formed the principal attrac-
tion of the evening was an exhibition of the potato plant
in various stages of the disease—from the incipient affec-
tion of the plant to the matured form of the evil. Po-
werful microscopes were arranged round the room,
through which could be seen the various species of the
aphis vastator—the insect whose ravages have caused the
failure of the crop during the las; year. The appear-
ance it presents is very much the same as that
presented by the comm on flea, when viewed
through a powerful magnifying medium, but the insect
is not one twentieth part of the size. There were seve-
ral specimens of the infected plant sent by the Right
Hon. Charles Shaw Lefevre, the Speaker of the House
of Commons, and the appearance presented by them,
when viewed by the naked eye, was exactly the same as
that presented by plants from other parts of the king-
dom, but the form of the insect appeared to vary with
the district. Another source of attraction was the va-
rious domestic vegetables, prepared so as to form bread
exactly resembling the ordinary wheaten bread. The
vegetable substances from which the various kinds
of bread were formed were—the white beet root,
the carrot, the mangold wurzel, the Iceland
moss, the artichoke, the sweet-potato, the Indian
corn, common rye, the turnip, common barley, common
beet-root, sweet beet-root, the parsnip, and though last,
not least, bread prepared from hay—a sweet smelling
and not unpalatable food. The Iceland moss bread alone
was nauseous, all the other varieties were well tasted, and
presenting the appearance of the ordinary loaf, and in-
dicating by the smell the vegetable from which it was
prepared. By way of washing down these novel kinds
of food, a jug of ale prepared from sugar was introduced,
and although not disagreeable, it certainly did not realise
an Englishman's idea of Barclay, Perkins, and Co.'s pre-
paration. There were various instruments, showing the
application of galvanism to medical purposes, and Pro-
fessor Smee's ether inhaler was exhibited. A descrip-
tion of this instrument has already appeared in the
Illustrated London News, and therefore it is unnecessary
to describe it any farther. It is sufficient to say, that
from its simplicity and portability, it bids fair to super-
sede any other instrument of the kind ever produced.
Mr. Saunders, of the Morning Advertiser, was the first
to inhale the ether, and after the lapse of a minute almost
complete insensibility was produced. Other gentlemen
were then subjected to the influence of the ether, and in
one instance, after inhaling the vapour for 45 seconds,
perfect insensibility was produced, which lasted rather
more than two minutes and a halt'. There were various
specimens of the electro statues introduced, and some
beautiful Daguerreotype views were placed round the
room. Refreshments on an ample scale were provided
for the visitors, of whom there were, itt the course of the
evening, no less than 150 present. The parties all left
apparently much gratified with the entertainments,
which were materially enhanced by the kindness of
Professor Smee and Dr. Mullinder, in explaining the
various objects of curiosity to the visitors.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
HUNTING APPOINTMENTS.
Sir C. Constable's stghds, Wed., West Newton.
Baron Rothschild's stghds., Thurs., Hardwick-11.
Bedele lids., Wed., Hutton Conyers; Fri., Bedale-10%.
Berkshire hds., 'Wed., Wittenhara ; Fri., Longcott.
Cleveland hds., Thurs., Kildale.
Mr. Drake's hds., Tues., Stratton Audley ; Thurs., Ry-
cote Kennel ; Sat., Marston St. Lawrence.
Durham County hds, Wed., Kennels; Fri., Whitton-10i.
P. B. lids., Fri., Ladock Wood.
Hurworth lids., Tues., Croft Bridge ; Sat., Girsby Scar-
-10%.
Oakley lids., Tues., Ravenham Bury; Thurs., Cranfield ;
Sat., Halsey Wood—lA to 11.
Lord Parker's hds., Tues., Holton Stone-pits; Fri., Nuf-
field Common-101.
Puckeridge hds., \'Ted. Widdington ; Sat., Cumbelowe-
-101
i/.
Snnington hds., Tues., Helmsley ; Fri., Dalby.
Tindale hds., Thurs., Nafferton.
Mr. Watson's lids., Wed., Ulgham Grange Wood ; Fri.,
Nunriding-104
York and Ainsty hds., Tues., Ribston Park ; Thurs., Cop-
grove; Sat., Skelton-10';i-
Carlisle hds, Well., Halfway House, Dalston Road ; Fri.,
Coathill.
Eamont hrrs., Wed., Kirkbythore ;..Sat., Great Salkeld-
-10%.
Cumberland lids., Thurs., Armthwete-11%.

EDINBURGH, JAN. 30.—The north of Scotland is
nearly in a state of insurrection. At Burghend, two vessels
laden with meal for export were deprived of their cargoes.
At Lossiemouth and Findhorn several carts laden with oats
were seized, and the captured victuals lodged inorehouses.
The other places in fort n being in a similar
state of excitement, forty soldiers from Fort George have
been stationed at Elgin ; and a company from Aberdeen has
been sent to Port Gordon, into which the inhabitants of
Keith
an inland town, are said to be pouring in large nuers.
Passing over intermediate districts, the food riot folly has
also reached the south. In Stranraer, disturbance was raised
because two meal-dealers would not sell their meal at 2s. 6d.
per stone. Carrots and loaves were also stolen, but the
promptitude of the authorities prevented the riots from reach-
ing any great height. The Edinbugh Destitution Fund
amounts to-day to 24,0991. 6s. 2d. The Scotsman's " corn-
, hinge to the Highls.nds appears to think that the High-
hinders are by far too md9lent, and that the distress, al-
I though wore, has in some =tames been exaggerated.