215 



culture of onions is well known, but we have not ascertained 

 whether such manuring is liable to the fh- or not. An over- 

 manured soil made so by too much putrescent animal or 

 vegetable matters could be treated with lime, ashes or char- 

 coal which by helping to absorb the ammonia would check 

 the fermentary process so favora1)le to the growing of fungi 

 of every kind. 



It would be interesting to ascertain whether this particu- 

 lar species of smut is to be found upon the leaves of the 

 wild garlic, (^Allium canadense') fjr it may be, that a more 

 succulent condition of the cultivated plant as in our field 

 onion, may be more susceptible to this disease from the high 

 culture which it obtains. Such parasitic plants destructive 

 to crops, indicate the tendency toAvards extinction of a par- 

 ticular variety ; and the remedy may lie in changing the 

 seed or by inducing some newer form not liable to be thus 

 affected." 



The Chair in receiving the report offered some remarks 

 upon the character of parasitical fungi and pointed out the 

 errors liable to be made by their looking quite alike, yet be- 

 ing materially distinct. He introduced to the meeting Mr. 

 John M. Ives, who had volunteered his services as ichthyolo- 

 gist of the party, and whose knowledge of many of our fishes 

 was well known. Mr. I. accordingly spoke at some length 

 respecting the fishes which he had captured. 



Mr. F. W. Putnam of Salem, a student at the scientific 

 school followed with a minute description of certain fishes, 

 of which the family of Ganoids were particularly specified. 

 He gave the meeting some idea of the classification proposed 

 by Agassiz to appear in the first volume of his new work, 

 making it plain by the use of the black board. 



The singular appearance and sudden disappearance of the 

 Blue-fish upon our coasts and in our estuaries, during some 

 seasons, and the effect of their visits upon other and smaller 

 fishes, were commented upon, to some length by Mr. Samuel 

 P. Fowler of Danvers. 



Hon. Asahel Huntington, who was present, being invited 



