62 
ridges immediately over the draining pipes recently laid down in that 
soil. 
‘Much has been said on the origin and cause of the ergot, but the 
question is still left in an unsatisfactory state. The opinion I am 
induced to adopt from observation is, that moisture has nothing to do 
with originating the disease, although it may promote its development, 
as filth and dirt combined with moisture may promote the extension 
of any pestilence. Let us look at the condition of the atmosphere at 
the time of year it is developed. In the fall of the year, decomposi- 
tion and fermentation are going on at a rapid rate, and the germs of 
dissolution spread throughout the whole organised world. At the 
same time, the physical condition of the atmosphere is in a state 
peculiar to the season. Modern researches into the properties of light 
have proved that there are three distinct classes of rays—the actinic 
or chemical, the luminous, and the calorific rays; the first prevail in 
the spring of the year and promote germination ; the second prevail 
in the summer and promote the increase of the plant; and the third 
prevail in the autumn and promote the ripening of the fruit. Now we 
have in the fall of the year a diminution of the rays that sustain the 
vital energies of the plant, and render it less able to resist the attack 
of destroying forces. There are no doubt other conditions of the 
atmosphere not yet thoroughly examined or even thought of, which 
play an important part in the propagation or suppression of disease. 
But the fact remains that it is in the fall of the year when fungoid 
diseases become most prevalent or epidemic. 
“Tt is only by the accumulation of observations that any law can 
be deduced. To obtain such will be interesting, to enable the agri- 
culturist to get rid of the disease from his fields, and permit it to be 
propagated with impunity in waste places for its medical worth. It 
is with this object in view I have laid my recent observations before 
the members of this Club, and hope at a future season to be more 
successful in collecting a sufficient quantity for examining its proper- 
ties, and to obtain the co-operation of members in different localities.” 
In connexion with the above subject, Mr. Blyth also read the 
following communication from Mr. Cobb, of Yarmouth :— 
Mr. Cobb thus writes, “ The practice of underdraining has become 
so general amongst us as to have changed to some extent the charac- 
ter of our Flora. Several species of marsh plants, once plentiful and 
peculiar to this neighbourhood, have disappeared, whilst their loss has 
been supplied by the introduction of a large number of species com- 
monly found in cultivated districts. Large tracts of wet marshes, 
