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the wheat mildew. This was the first time that these spores had been found 

 growing in the kernel of wheat, and it seemed to show that the disease 

 might be sown with the wheat, and thus be perpetuated through successive 

 generations. It had been found before upon the straw, but not within the 

 seed itself. Drawings were given with the paper, and it was not easy to 

 estimate the value which this discovery might possess with reference to the 

 subject of the eradication of the pest. 



The other matter to which he would refer was a little incident which had 

 occurred lately at the gardens at Kew, and which had a bearing in the same 

 direction. In the Rockery at Kew there was a small patch about 2£ feet 

 square of a common Alpine flower, Gentiana acaulis, growing together 

 with other plants of a similar kind. The whole of this patch of Gentians 

 was in an apparently sickly and dying condition, and being the nearest 

 doctor he was called in to examine and prescribe for the patients. He found 

 the plants were infested with a fungus known as Puccinia Gentiana, which 

 was a fungus quite new to Britain, and thoroughly injurious to plants of 

 this genus, to which it became attached in their native habitat. The ques- 

 tion naturally arose why should this pest travel over from Germany or 

 France and settle down upon this particular patch of Gentians in Kew 

 Gardens ? An inquiry as to their antecedents showed that they were im- 

 ported plants, having been brought over from Germany during the pre- 

 vious year, and this led to the conclusion that they were imported with the 

 disease in them, concealed within their tissues, and that it had subsequently 

 developed in the way described. The whole of the plants were at once 

 taken up and burnt, and it was to be hoped that these heroic measures 

 would prevent the development of - any more of the fungi. This led him to 

 remark as to the value in this branch of natural history of constant and 

 continuous work, and of the results which were certain to reward the worker 

 who would only persevere in a given pursuit. Some time ago he wanted 

 to get a complete catalogue of a particular genus for publication in 

 " Grevillea," and for this purpose he resolved to look about in gardens and 

 other places wherever he went to see if he could not find some other 

 specimens to add to the list. He did this on every opportunity which pre- 

 sented itself in the course of six weeks, and at the end of that time he had 

 raised the number of known species from 30 to 140. This showed what a 

 little perseverance might accomplish, and he was sure the same thing 

 Avould hold good in every other branch of study. If a person would 

 confine himself to one particular point, he would soon be surprised to find 

 how much could be made of it. 



Mr. Buff ham wished he could say something further upon the subject 

 started by the Chairman, but confessed himself to be ignorant about it. He 

 would, however, make a few remarks upon another matter, with reference 

 to the paper which he read before the Club some time ago on the red sea- 

 weeds and their mode of fructification. He was in hopes that the reading of 

 that paper might have been the means of finding him a coadjutor in the 

 Quekett Club, but although it had not done so, he should be glad to take 

 that opportunity of conveying to the members a few more ideas on the sub- 



