injukious and other fungi. 45 



Discussion. 



Marshall P. Wilder thought Mr. Halsted's remarks on the plum 

 wart the soundest and most practical he had ever heard in so few 

 words. He alluded to a paper on injurious insects, by Dr. T. W. 

 Harris, published in the "Proceedings of the American Pomologi- 

 cal Society'," for 1854, in which Dr. Harris recognized the presence 

 in the plum wart of the Sphceria, and also of insects, but did not 

 consider either of them the cause of the warts. 



In answer to an inquiry, Mr. Halsted said that the potato rot 

 was largely propagated by immature and affected tubers, with the 

 mycelium running through every part, but its presence is unknown 

 when the tubers are planted, and until it is too late to apply a 

 remedy. He was doubtful whether the solution of lime, which has 

 proved effectual in preventing mildew on grape vines, would pre- 

 vent the potato rot, though there could be no harm in making the 

 trial. The change in the color of the leaf is a manifestation of fun- 

 gus all through the plant, and the whole thing goes in a day. 



Augustus T. Perkins suggested soaking the seed after cutting, in 

 a solution of sulphur. 



Mr. Halsted said that the fungi are the toughest of all plants, 

 and any solution strong enough to destroy them would destroy the 

 plants on which they gi'ow. 



The Chairman remarked that farmers had sometimes saved their 

 crops of potatoes by mowing the tops. 



Mr. Halsted said that the foliage contains the fruiting part of the 

 fungus and that consequently mowing would prevent the spread of 

 the disease. 



The thanks of the meeting were voted to Mr. Halsted for his in- 

 teresting and instructive lecture. The Chairman announced that at 

 some future time the subject of the lecture would be further dis- 

 cussed. 



BUSINESS MEETING. 



Saturday, February 3, 1877. 



An adjourned meeting of the Society was holden at 11 o'clock. 

 President Parkman in the chair. 



William J. Vass, of Dorchester, having been recommended by 

 the Executive Committee, was duly elected a member of the Society. 



