a 
Cambridge Philosophical Society. 379 
PROCEEDINGS OF LEARNED SOCIETIES. 
CAMBRIDGE PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY. 
Nov. 30, 1840.—The President, Dr. Hodgson, in the Chair. 
Prof. Henslow gave an interesting lecture upon the diseases of 
wheat, in which after pointing out the differences of effect of the 
Uredo caries or Bunt, and the U. segetum or Smut, he showed that 
the U. rubigo or Rust is only an earlier state of the Puccinia gra- 
minis or Mildew, having traced the progress of the plant from the 
state described under one of these names to that denominated by the 
other, and even found the simple, not septate, and nearly or quite 
sessile sporidia of the Uredo in the same sorus with the clavate, con- 
stricted and septate sporidia of the Puccinia. ‘The Professor stated 
that he had submitted specimens to Mr. Berkeley, and that that 
eminent algologist had confirmed his conclusion that the two plants 
(referred to different genera) are in fact only states of one species. 
This is a conclusion that must cause great alteration in our ideas of 
the subcuticular Fungi. He then pointed out the distinctions be- 
tween the “cidium Berberidis and the blights of wheat, and thereby 
showed the improbability of the Berberry having any agency in the 
causing of blight in wheat. He stated, that it might possibly be the 
case, that the same soils and situations that are favourable to the 
production of Uredo are also appropriate for the growth of the Ber- 
berry, and that the Berberry had thus obtained the bad name which 
has been so unjustly attached to it. 
The next point brought under notice was the prevalence of Ergot 
in wheat in that part of Suffolk in which Prof. Henslow resides ; and 
he expressed it to be his opinion, that the presence of Hrgot in the 
flour might be the cause of many of the grievous sores to which the 
poor are liable ; he also stated that. he had placed some of the wheat 
Ergot in the hands of eminent medical men, in order that they 
might ascertain if it possesses the same valuable medicinal proper- 
ties for which the Ergot of rye is so celebrated. He concluded his 
very valuable communication by giving the history of the Hur- 
Cockle caused by the Vibrio tritici, and also of the Wheat Midge. 'The 
whole was illustrated by excellent magnified drawings and nume- 
rous specimens. 
BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH. 
President, David Falconar, Esq., M.W.S. 
Vice-Presidents, Robert Graham, M.D., Regius Prof. Bot. of 
Edinb. ; Daniel Ellis, Esq.; Robert Kaye Greville, Esq., LL.D. ; 
Prof. Traill, M.D. 
Council, Prof. Christison, M.D.; H. Ivory, Esq. ; D. Steuart, Esq. ; 
Patrick Neill, Esq., LL.D.; William Scott, Esq.; W. C. Trevelyan, 
Esq. 
, W. Brand, Esq.—Secretary, W. H. Campbell, Esq.— 
Corresponding Secretary, J. H. Balfour, M.D.—Foreign Seeretaries, 
