THE Royal Dublin Society's Boyle medal, awarded to Prof. Paul A. Murphy in recognition of the value of his work in phytopathology, was presented to him at a special scientific meeting of the

Society on May 5. The medal, which was instituted in commemoration of Robert Boyle, the illustrious Irish chemist, is awarded to Irish workers in all branches of science, pure and applied,

whose work is adjudged to be of outstanding merit and importance. It was first awarded in 1899 to Prof. G. Johnstone Stoney for his work, which included what was probably the first

approximate estimate of the electronic charge. Prof. Murphy's name is the eleventh on the list of holders. In presenting the report of the Committee of Science recommending the award of the

deterioration which generally occurs in every variety of the potato is attributable to the accumulation of virus in successive crops. His work has also thrown much light on the complex

nature of many virus diseases. He has contributed largely to our knowledge of various diseases of other plants, amongst which onion mildew and dry rot in turnips may be especially mentioned.

Sir Frederick Moore, in supporting the award, referred especially to the great value of the work on potato blight, and of the important bearing of the investigations into the virus diseases

on the seed potato industry. In making the presentation to Prof. Murphy, the Right Hon. Viscount Powerscourt, president of the Society, pointed out how particularly appropriate it was for

the presentation to be made at a meeting held during the Society's Agricultural Show, since Prof. Murphy's work, in addition to being of great importance to pure science, is also a very

valuable contribution to the advancement of agriculture, thus linking the two great branches of the Society's activities.

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