118 JOURNAL OF THE [April, 



PROCEEDINGS. 



Meeting of December 2D, 1887. 



The President, the Rev. J. L. Zabriskie, in the chair. 



Thirty-seven persons present. 



The Rev. A. B. Hervey was elected a Corresponding Mem- 

 ber, and Mr, Frank Healy was elected a Resident Member of 

 the Society. 



Messrs. Mead, Woolman, Wales, Calef and Devoe gave full 

 and interesting explanations of their several exhibits, as 

 announced in the present programme. 



Mr. P. H. Dudley read the following notes on fungi, in ex- 

 planation of his exhibits, Nos. 7 and 8 of the programme of this 

 meeting. 



NOTES ON Lentinus lepideus, Fr., and Trametes pini, Fr. 



" Finding these two species of fungus fruiting upon the same 

 piece of Yellow Pine, Pinus palustris. Mill., is of considerable 

 scientific, as well as of practical importance. 



"Scientific Interest: — i. It shows that the difference in 

 appearance, between mycelium so often found in the upper por- 

 tion of Yellow Pine railroad ties, and that generally found in 

 the lower portion, is due to distinct species of fungus, and not 

 to a polymorphism of mycelium of one species. 



" 2. That two species of fungus, having distinct external char- 

 acteristics, are, by growth, able to break down and reduce 

 similar compounds under nearly the same external conditions. 



"Practical Importance: — i. For this immediate vicinity, 

 so far as yet observed, the rate of destruction, caused by Len- 

 tinus lepideus^ Fr., in the duramen of Yellow Pine ties, is over 

 three times that caused by Trametes ptni, Fr. 



" 2. Lentinus lepideus, Fr., in gravel or cinder ballast, attacks 

 first the portions 'of the ties which are imbedded, and grows up- 

 ward ; while Trametes pini, Fr., attacks first the exposed ends 

 of the ties, the mycelium working slowly inward and downward. 



" This shows that the former needs more moisture, and exclu- 

 sion from air-currents, for its growth. Therefore, if the Yellow 

 Pine ties are only imbedded in the ballast sufficiently for the 

 stability of the track, the rate of decay for the entire tie, as 



