TRANSACTIONS, 15 
Spore (Oospore) with a hard coat, is also formed by the fungus 
inside the leaves and stalks, These are set free by the decay of 
the leaves and stalks, and in the spring germinate and infect new 
plants. This being the life-history of the fungus, the remedies 
found to be of service are easily explained. Firat, it is obviously 
necessary to destroy, by burning, all dead or decaying remains. 
Secondly, “ earthing up” the tubers prevents their being infected 
by the conidiospores, Thirdly, a remedy which has been tound 
thoroughly satisfactory in the case of the American grape vine 
mildew, also caused by a Peronospora, consists in sprinkling the 
leaves with a mixture of 8 kilogrammes of copper sulphate, 16 
kilogrammes of chalk in about 130 litres of water. This need 
only be sprinkled on the leaves once for all, and a broom dipped 
in buckets of the liquid is found to be the most convenient 
method. It is extremely probable that this would prevent the 
spread of the potato disease, as the mixture prevents the conidio- 
spores from forming swarm spores, and so infecting the leaf. The 
same remedy might also be used for the onion mildew, which is 
due to another Peronospora, P. Schleideniana, and a trial is highly 
desirable. 
Il. A Strange Atmospheric Appearance. By Mr Ropert Rogson, 
Penpont. 
On the evening of one of those splendid summer days in the 
middle of July last, half-an-hour before sunset, a party of five of 
us, a lady and four gentlemen, were standing in front of Penpont 
Manse admiring the beautiful landscape directly in front of us—a 
view which embraces the greater portion of Middle Nithsdale. 
This view is bounded on the east and south-east by the Closeburn 
hills and on the south and west by the hills of Keir, broken only 
by the deep gorge at Auldgirth through which the River Nith 
enters the valley of Lower Nithsdale. Owing to the configuration 
of the hills and the low elevation of the manse, no view can 
be possibly obtained of the valley beyond. It was near sunset, 
and Sol himself seemed to cast one long, lingering look behind, 
and, as if bestowing his parting blessing, shone forth with special 
splendour, as he often does before sinking for the night behind 
the hills of Tynron. One of our number drew the attention of 
the party to the strange appearance of what at first sight seemed 
to be the sky towards the south, Another of the party pointed 
out the vivid outlines of a large field, with a wood tu the south of 
