197 



had been said concerning them had gone largely to show that 

 these very elementary forms of Fungi were equally capable of 

 carrying on their existence as any of the later forms ; so that 

 he was rather sorry to hear him disparage them, because they 

 seemed quite as capable of carrying on the business of life as 

 the ascomycetous forms. 



Mr. Massee, in reply, said, as regarded the horticultural diffi- 

 culty, horticulturists, as a rule, did not anticipate ; but when the 

 disease came, then they wanted to do everything. Of course it 

 was then too late to do anything. The thing to do was to 

 anticipate, and one or two syringings in the spring would in most 

 cases prevent the after trouble. Then gardeners would always 

 crowd these things together, with the same result as overcrowding 

 in the case of infectious disease ; although, as in a case where one 

 member of a family had small-pox, it would sometimes happen 

 that the others w^ould not take it. To anticipate a possible 

 outbreak it would be a good thing to syringe with some solution, 

 such as potassium sulphide, and wherever it was practicable to 

 grow a mixed crop. It was better to have one free than ten 

 diseased ; and if the crop was mixed a disease which affected only 

 one particular sort would be more isolated, and seven out of ten 

 might be saved. He did not think that spore diflfusion was 

 altogether a matter of gravitation ; for being so infinitely fine, 

 like the dust in the sunbeam, they practically ignored gravitation. 

 In the case of the lower forms they did very well in their way, 

 but there were amongst them about six hundred species confined 

 to a small geographical area; whereas they had at least fifty 

 thousand of the others spread all over the world. The thing 

 which had the greatest area, and could keep the others down, 

 was what he looked upon as having hit the mark. 



Mr. Massee's subject was well illustrated by diagrams and 

 specimens, and by a series of preparations shown under a number 

 of microscopes in the room. 



On the motion of the President, a cordial vote of thanks was 

 given to Mr. Massee for his most interesting paper. 



Announcements of meetings for the ensuing month were then 

 made, and the proceedings terminated. 



JouRN , Q. M. C , Series II.— No. 44. 14 



