52 
certainty. He had been trying for a long time to grow different 
spores. In some he succeeded, and in some he did not; ordinary 
mushroom spores would not grow in the usual way, but if 
watered with the urine of a horse, or if stable ‘manure was 
added, the spores would grow as fast as possible, but unless they 
had the particular material which was wanted for the spores to 
germinate they would not get them to grow ; and wise-acres said they 
could not, whilst in reality they had failed to make them grow, be- 
cause they had not the proper matrix. Thus it is proved that a 
solution of albumen in distilled water will not allow of fungus 
growth if kept for a year, but the addition of a few drops of almost 
any acid makes a profuse growth of fungi very rapidly 
manifest. Thus it may happen that the first germs of fungi 
may grow very slowly for want of proper nidus, but let it 
be supplied, and the fungus puts in a very rapid appearance 
indeed. The germs of merulius lachrymans, the name of, the 
dry rot fungus, probably exist on all kinds of wood (several of the 
microscopes in the room showed the spores). When germinating, 
they send threads of mycelium into the vascular tissue of the timber, 
abstract the nitrogenous matter from it, set free carbonic acid and 
water, and leave behind next to nothing, viz., the inorganic or 
mineral matter of the tree only, in the lightest possible skeleton 
form. ‘The effect of the fungus in the act of growth is to produce 
acid; acid also promotes its growth and hence, if there is no venti- 
lation to carry away the results of its growth, viz., the impure and 
acid air, that very air will help forward the further destruction of the 
timber by retaining the acid which is required, whilst if immature 
timber is used, the juices which are contained in it may, by their 
own changes, ferment and really produce the acid which is 
wanted for the growth of the fungus. To use immature wood, 
therefore, in unventilated places, is to make the production of dry rot 
a certainty, and shows gross carelessness on the part of those who 
are responsible for it. The power of fungus growth is very great. 
Probably some might remember that at Basingstoke some years 
ago, the inhabitants found heavy flag-stones mysteriously raised, 
and on taking them up it was found that it was due to the growth 
of a number of fungi beneath. Asa remedy for dry rot, he had no 
hesitation in saying that there should be free ventilation. If this were 
well looked to, and the use of immature wood prohibited, dry rot 
would not occur, and indeed ought not to have occurred in those in- 
stances he had mentioned. Referring to the potato blight, Dr. Car- 
penter ascribed it to the presence of the botrytis infestans (specimens 
of which were exhibited), and showed that the spores were planted 
with the seed potatoes, and that thus the possibility of the disease 
was provided for. In July and August, during thundery weather, a 
whole field might be infected ina night. He showed that its action 
