Published online by Cambridge University Press: 27 March 2009
In discussing among men of science the subject of diseases caused by bacteria, it is quite unnecessary, at this date, to argue the question as to whether there are or are not bacterial diseases of plants. A knowledge of the literature of the past fifteen years and of the character of the researches which have been carried out in this branch of phytopathology, establishes the point beyond all doubt. But it may be useful to consider briefly some of the reasons which accounted for the scepticism prevalent in earlier days.