Fig. 19. 



451 



the way for a species of aiigulula, wliicli appear in great numbers 

 monads, water-mites, vibrions and bacteria, by breaking up the proxi- 

 mate elements. These being destroyed, or changed in composition, a 

 watery juice is always formed where the fungi rested. Whenever the 

 conditions are favorable for aquatic life, it appears in profusion. Torula, 

 a low form of fungi budding-cells, set in, causing fermentation, and 

 assisting in the general destruction of the onion. This explains the 

 cause of its rajiid decay in the field, when once attacked by " mildew 

 and smut," under high temperature and moisture. • 



Moisture, and a temperature of about 7(P, seem to have the effect of 

 changing the sectional si^ores from their original appearance, as repre- 

 sented iu Fig. 18,. 2, to that 

 in rig. 19, 10, in which a 

 greater number of divisions 

 is observed, containing some- 

 times as many as eleven cells, 

 and all containing slightly 

 elliptical spores. To ascer- 

 tain the true course of the 

 transformation of the onion- 

 blight and smut will require 

 further observations; but I 

 think it probable that the 

 so-called smut is but a higher 

 stage of the secondary glob- 

 ular yellow fruit seen on the 

 mycelium. See Fig. 18, 6. 

 The micro-chemical observa- 

 tions made fully sustain the 

 views of the onion-growers, 

 viz, that the onion-smut is 

 very tenacious of life. 



In many localities, rank weeds might be procured in great abundance 

 on fields infested by the fungi, (on the field alluded to, weeds three feet 

 in height grew in profusion;) were they cut down, sun-dried, spread 

 over the field, and with them brushwood and all useless materials found 

 about the farm burned, the surface-spores, and all germs of parasitic 

 life within reach, would be consumed, and caustic potash, lime, and 

 charcoal would be liberated and diffused over the field for the benefit of 

 the succeeding crops. 



THE COTTON MOVEMENT. 



The New York Cotton Exchange presents the following figures as the 

 sum of receipts of cotton, (in bales, which average about 465 pounds,) 

 and the shipments to foreign countries, during two years past, the com- 

 mercial year ending September 1, and covering substantially, though 

 not exactly, the crop of the preceding calendar year : 



Commercial 

 ^^___ movement. Exports. 



Ciop cf 1870 4,347,006. 3,169,009 



Crcp of 1671 2,974,351. 1,957,314 



