PROPERTIES OF CRYPTOGAMIC PLANTS. 119 



According to the observations of Mr. Kirby (see Linn. Trans, 

 vol. vi.), the gentlemen of England, to guard their seeds against 

 the encroachment of the peeper brand or hladders, di'ess them with 

 a lixivium of wood-ashes and urine, salt and water, lees from the 

 soap-boilers, urine and cheese-whey ; and he believes that all the 

 farmers dry their seeds with fresh-slacked lime. From whence it 

 would appear that the disease originates from the adhesion of the 

 seed or dust of the hrand to the seed of the wheat. Fresh slacked 

 lime will sometimes injure the seeds. Old wheat used for seed, 

 it has been observed, is not subject to the brand. 



For smut, Mr. Gordon recommends, in the Bath papers for 

 1T99, vitriolic acid. He suffers the seeds to remain in the steep 

 for twenty hours, using one gallon of acid to thirty of water. 



TJredo Tiibigo^ Dec. \ Eust. On grasses and corn. S. C. ! 

 Cceoma " Lk. f et ubique. 



Common, but not so injurious as the true mildew, Puccinia 

 gra/minis. 



Uredo sua/voleus, Pers. ) Sweet-scented Uredo. " On Cni- 

 Aec. cardui^ Sow. f cus arvensis. 



Flies, according to Sowerby, often gorge themselves with this 

 plant, and are killed. Crjqot. Eng. 



Mucedo. 



The genera Mucedos, Mucors, Byssi, &c., constitute mildew, 

 mold, &c. 



It is deserving of particular inquiry, how it is that the growth 

 of the minute fungi are prevented by any kind of perfume or es- 

 sential oil. Even the small amount in Russia leather being suffi- 

 cient. Ed. P. J. 8, 34 ; Lind., Nat. Syst. 333. 



RTiizomoTjplia. 



I am unable to ascertain where it should come. 



This genus, which vegetates in dark mines, far from the liglit 

 of day, is remarkable for its phosphorescent properties. In the 

 coal mines near Dresden the species are described as giving those 

 places the air of an enchanted castle ; the roofs, walls, and pillars 

 are entirely covered with them, their beautiful light almost daz- 

 zling the eye. Tlie light is found to increase with the tempera- 

 ture of the mines. Ed. P. J. 14, 1Y8 ; Lind., Nat. Syst. 333. 



AcJiorion Schonleinii. 



We do not know where to arrange this genus, l}elonging to 



