46 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [JANUARY 
to by the brothers Tulasne and others as an anonymous writer, who 
signed himself 7. B. 
Tillet’s account of the disease includes a good and unmistakable 
description of the gross appearance of the fungus, in which he says 
that its last effect is to convert the excrescence into a black dust, very 
similar to that which issues from a Lycoperdon, or puff ball? In a 
footnote to the translation Beckmann has given his opinion that the 
fungus is a parasitic species of Lycoperdon, and proposes a name in 
accordance with this view.” In assigning it to the genus Lycoperdon 
he was following the custom of certain good botanists of the day and 
many years following.* To be sure he subsequently decided, upon 
reading Imhof’s researches, that he was mistaken in considering it a 
parasitic puff ball, and so states in his deservedly popular treatise on 
German agriculture.” Although the author’s opinions regarding the 
relationship of the fungus were not well founded, yet the name was 
happily and properly conceived and published, and meets the full 
requirements of present nomenclatural rules.—J. C. Artuur, Lafayette, 
Ind. 
9*Son dernier effet consiste a convertir cette excroissance en une poussiére noir- 
atre assez semblable a celle qui sort du /ycoperdon ou vesse de-loupe.” \. c. 256. 
“Meiner Me nach, ist das hier beschriebene Gewachs allerdings ein 
Staubschwamm (Lycoterdom) und zwar eine Species parasitica, deren in Lin. Syst. nat. 
ane. drey befindlich sind, unter welchen also dieser Art, etwa unter dem Namen 
Lycoper. zee ein Platz anzuweisen ware.” 1. c. 1330. 
1" Cf. Schrank, Flore Salisb., 1792, who places the smut of wheat and oats, and 
some other equally distantly related fungi under Lycoperdon, along with Z. Bovista, a 
true puff ball. 
12“ Finer besondern Krankheit is der Mays in Frankreich und der Schweitz aus- 
— i maealich aus 1s ania maar ccees Pecel dnemergal vornelimlich ase den 
“1. 
pee diese Mei heint durch die Beobachtunges Wier 
, die man in Bate ale a Pe aeae we. ad ustiiaoinem vulgo 
Gottingen, roe (et sl-e. 1806 (ed. 6 ‘a The’ other citi ot tax ool I 
have not 
