66 MILDEW OF THE 



the same thread, and it is impossible to prove the case by repro- 

 duction from the spores as in that of dicecious plants, the body of 

 evidence seems so strong and closely connected as to be irresist- 

 ible. It is true that the real sporangia of the vine mildew have 

 not yet been observed, but considering the identity of their pycnidia 

 with those of known species of Erysiphe, it seems very difficult 

 to suppose that they are essentially different. The mildew of the 

 peach may be observed for years without finding sporangia, except 

 at a very late period on the branches; and that of the rose, and of 

 Lycium barbarura, as noticed by Tulasne, frequently do not proceed 

 beyond the mucoroid condition. We do not doubt, therefore, that 

 at some future period the true sporangia may be found, and we 

 trust that the little parasite which has been of such unlooked-for 

 importance may still preserve the specific name originally 

 assigned to it, in honour of the very meritorious cultivator who 

 first observed it, and did not cease to study its habits till he had 

 discovered the proper remedy. It may still therefore be named 

 Erysiphe Tuckeri, if the name of Oidiura Tuckeri must perish. 



It is a curious fact that in abundant specimens received from 

 the Upper and Lower Corgo and Douro, thi'ough the kindness of 

 Messrs, Martiniez and Gassiot, and in specimens of diseased 

 grapes from INIadeira, forwarded in 1852 to Sir W. J. Hooker, 

 by C. H. C. Plowden, Esq., (see Gardeners'' Chronicle, 1853, 

 p. 547; and 1852, p. 579), not a single pycnidium appeared 

 amongst the mould, but in their stead very curious bodies consist- 

 ing of a large nearly globose terminal cell, with one or two hyaline 

 cells at the base forming a sort of peduncle. These resemble very 

 closely Conisporium Helminthosporii, Corda and I have therefore 

 given them the name of Conisporium commilitans* (Fig. 9), 

 though 1 cannot conceal from myself the possibility of their being 

 some other form of fruit, however improbable this may seem. 

 At any rate the matter is well worth attention, and I am content 

 to run the risk of the tu qiioque reproach of adding a name which 

 inay hereafter be found useless, as the very circumstance of 



» Conisporiun commilitans, Berk. <t JBr. Sporis magnis obovatis pallidis 

 granulatis, basi uniseptulis, articulo inferiore hyalino, cum pedunculo brevis- 

 simo, cyliudrico subconfluente. 



Sporee cerviiiEe "0014 ad -0015 unc. long. ■0011 lat. I am the rather 

 inclined to suppose the Conisporium autonomous, as both the Madeira and 

 Portuguese specimens were overrun with Trichothecium and other parasites. 

 The more nearly allied species of Conisporium are truly parasitic, which i.s 

 an additional argument in favour of the view I have taken. 



