339 



color where the parasite is still strong, feeding upon the un- 

 touched portions, and extending in every direction. Under a 

 microscope, the plant is found to consist of interwoven filaments, 

 septate towards the apex, the last articulation swelling into an 

 oblong vesicle containing two or more nuclei. 



The, Asteroma pomigena, Schw., appears first as a dark, clouded 

 stain, generally round, from a half to a quarter of an inch in 

 diameter. A microscopic examination of this exhibits a radiat- 

 ing network of branched filaments, which look like a miniature 

 Hypnum. Seated upon this mycelium are minute black peri- 

 thecia, of a depressed, semi-globular form. As these increase in 

 size, the mycelium disappears, leaving them strongly defined in 

 small black dots upon the apple skin. They get finally rubbed 

 off, and leave a minute black ring to mark the place where they 

 were. He had never been able to find any fructification. A 

 single spot, with its radiating mycelium, is a beautiful object 

 under the microscope. 



These two funguses grow very frequently upon the same fruit, 

 and are so very common that it would require a careful selection 

 to obtain any number of individuals entirely free from their 

 attacks. 



Dr. A. A. Hayes informed the Society that he had 

 obtained some further analytical results on Serpentines, 

 which, in connection with those previously published, 

 might possess some interest. 



He alluded to the fact that multiplied trials on the serpentine 

 rock, called Verd Antique Marble, had proved that the composite 

 character was maintained throughout the whole mass which had 

 been quarried ; it being truly an assemblage of magnesian min- 

 erals, cemented by anhydrous carbonate of magnesia. The 

 formation of wiiich this quarry is a part, is extensive, passing 

 through the State from its southerly border to its most northerly 

 township ; including a large collection of magnesian minerals. 

 It was therefore deemed important to inquire, if analytical ex- 

 periments would give analogous results on samples of the serpen- 

 tine taken from different parts of the range. Some early 

 analyses that he had made, confirmed his conclusions in relation 



