JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS. 165 



altogether 10.44 inches (average 14.06). From July 21 to 

 August 8 no rain fell, while the heat was excessive, especially 

 from July 29 to Aug. 7, when in the afternoon of every day 

 but one it reached 09° to 101.5°. 



September 10, 1861. 



The President, Dr. Engelmann, in the chair. 



Six members present. 



The following publications were received : 



Canadian Naturalist and Geologist, and Proc. Nat. Hist. Soc. of Mon- 

 treal, Vol. VI., Nos. 1-4, 1861, from the Society; Jour. Franklin Institute, 

 Philad., No. 3, 1801, from the Institute; Proc. Entomol. Society, Philad., 

 June-Aug. 1861, from the Socieiy. 



Dr. Engelmann exhibited specimens and numerous drawings of two 

 species of fungi, which infest our vineyards to such an extent as to ma- 

 terially diminish the crop and influence the culture of the grape, at least 

 that of the Catawba, in our region. The first is a species of Botrytis, 

 and perhaps the same as Berkeley's B. viticola, (very near B. acinorum, 

 Pers. ?) It makes its appearance in the latter part of June, on the lower 

 downy surface of the leaves of the Catawba variety of Vitis Labrusca, 

 (the only one extensively cultivated here,) forming irregular confluent 

 spots. The horizontal fibres of the mycelium have a diameter of 0.005 

 line, finer and whiter than the hair of the down with which they are 

 interwoven ; the erect fructiferous stems, about 0.3-0.4 line high, and 

 a little thicker than the horizontal fibres, bear numerous horizontal 

 branches, upwards gradually shorter, the last divisions of which form 

 very short pedicels, always 2 or 3 together, bearing oblong or oval, very 

 deciduous spores, 0.008-0.011 lines in the longer diameter. About the 

 same time the mildew appears on the pedicels, and often also on the 

 young berries when they are of the size of small peas or smaller ; Dr. E. 

 never saw it on full grown berries. Those attacked on their surface or on 

 their pedicels soon fall off; but the most material damage is done by the 

 mildew infesting the leaves, whereupon the greater part of the berries 

 will gradually turn yellowish-brown at their base, shrivel from that 

 point, assume a club shape, and at last dry up entirely, usually remaining 

 adherent to the withered racemes. This he designated as the brown rot. 



The second kind of rot— the black rot — is brought on by a very differ- 

 ent fungus, which he believed was undescribed by botanists. It evidently 

 belonged near Ehrenberg's genus Namaspora, and ought to bear the 

 name ampclicida. It makes its appearance only on nearly full grown 

 berries, exhibiting in the first stage a discolored spot on the side, but 

 never at the base of the berry, about 2 lines in diameter, with a dark dot 

 in the centre. This spot soon becomes light-brown and remains so, while 

 the surrounding part of the berry gets darker, and exhibits a rough or 

 (under a magnifier) pustulous surface ; gradually, now, the berry shrivels 

 up and turns black. The individual fungi are little spherical bodies, 

 (0.07-0.10 line in diameter,) formed under the surface in large numbers, 

 which, growing, elevate, and at last burst the epidermis, then open at 

 their apex by a small jagged hole, and, shrivelling with the berry, eject a 

 more or less curled or twisted thread, which, moistened, becomes gela- 

 tinous, and shows the innumerable oval sporules, (0.004-0.005 line long,) 

 each imbedded in its coat of mucilage. 



These kinds of fungi are found either on distinct vines, or sometimes 

 also on the same ; they are very rarely seen on grapes cultivated in yards 



