304 BOTANICAL NOTES, NOTICES, AND QUERIES. [December'. 



penetrated into the red gravel ; and on making a bed of cement, of lime 

 and rubbisli, above tbe gravel, and planting the trees in two feet of mould 

 above the concrete, they continue healthy and bear fruit abundantly. The 

 Pear-trees are most affected, the Plum and Cherry less, and Almonds and 

 hardier trees apparently not at all. Ornamental Pears, etc., suffer in just 

 the same way. P. B. W. 



Osmaston. 



Oak-leap Fungus. 



I wish some of yoiu' readers who are microscopists as well as botanists 

 would take the trouble, or rather the pleasiu'e, of examining the Oak-leaf 

 at this season of the year, on the under side of which wiU. be found smaU 

 brown spots, a little raised, but when examined by a moderate power of 

 the microscope, appear bossed, are studded with short hairs, and adhere to 

 the leaf. On detaching them from the leaf and examining the under part, 

 it win be seen that they grow by a stem, like an Agaric, are hollow and 

 striated from the centre to the margin. I am not much acquainted with 

 this part of the vegetable kingdom, but hope some of your readers will 

 kindly inform me whether these productions belong to the Fungi tribe ; 

 and if not, what are they ? 



They are beautiful microscopic objects ; and on examining the under 

 side of one of them I observed two species of minute Fungi growing there, 

 besides which five small insects, apparently ApJddes, sporting in this 

 small area, and not inclined to quit theii* abode. 



The production of these small insects and the minute Fungi in so sin- 

 gular a locality, is worthy of investigation. I enclose a leaf with the ob- 

 jects on it. S. B. 



Ancient and popular Names of some British Orchids. 



Orchis mascula. — Cock's Kames (Combs); Dead-man's Thumb ; Aaron's 

 Beard. 



0. latifolia. — Diel's Foot ; Dead-men's Fingers ; Adam and Eve. 

 0. maculata. — Hen's Kames ; Adder Grass. 



The name of a large Umbelliferous plant growing in fields and ditch- 

 banks about Merstham and Gatton, Surrey, is asked foi'. We asked for 

 a specimen, which has not been forthcoming. 



Comimmications have been received from 



C. C. Babington, F.E.S. ; S. B. ; Kev. W. T. Bree, F.L.S. ; J. B. 

 Maxwell T. Masters; J. Lloyd; T. W. Gissing ; J. G. Baker; J. S. 



BOOK EECEIVED FOR EEVIEW. 

 Sowerhjs British Grasses. Part II. 



EEEATA IN NOVEMBER WTJMBEE. 



Page 257, line 10, /or Flarkburgh read Flookbm-gh. 

 Page 258, line 10, for these differing read thus differing, 

 Page 278, last word, /or few read fen. 



