BY P. ABBOTT. 97 



Barwick points out in one of liis experiments that it was the 

 strong and deep-rooted plants that escaped infection ; this is 

 only what might hare been looked for, as upon the strength 

 and rapidity of growth of the plant depends in great measure 

 its immunity from infection. And, again he points out that 

 it was only in the annual species of grasses that lie detected 

 smut ; here again is precisely what might be expected, as the 

 perennial grasses would have become too consolidated at the 

 part subject to infection for the fine filaments of the fungus 

 to effect an entrance, and thus would remain free from attack. 

 With reference to the suggestion that experiments should be 

 undertaken in the Botanical Gardens for the purpose of 

 throwing light on the subject, I doubt much if any good 

 result could be obtained by such experiments. There is no 

 doubt but the life history of fungoid pests effecting cultivated 

 plants is one of great interest to the cultivator, but the 

 subject is so intricate, the same fungus presenting many 

 varying forms during its growth, that if any satisfactory 

 progress is to be made in its elucidation, it is absolutely 

 necessary that cultivators in many and varying localities 

 accurately record facts coming under their notice, and these 

 facts, which are only so much crude material, will need to be 

 arranged and investigated by the mycologist. Only after very 

 many and oft repeated experiments, made for the purpose of 

 verification, have been made can any definite result be 

 obtained. 



