168 THE JOURNAL OF BOTANY 



section is Australasia, where there are eleven species, two reach 

 north to Japan, and one occurs in India. Two or three are found 

 in South America, and one in North America. Three species occur 

 in Africa, one of which is also recorded by Dr. Nordstedt from 

 Portugal. It is not quite certain that N. omithopoda is distinct 

 from this last. At the same meeting Mr. G. C. Druce read a 



paper on the occurrence of Spergularia atheniensis and Agrostis 



verticillata in the Channel Islands, specimens of the plants being 

 shown. 



The Oxford University Press has just published The Dillenian 



Herbaria: an account of the Dillenian collections in the Herbarium 



of the University, together with a biographical sketch of Dillenius, 



selections from his correspondence, notes, &c, by Mr. G. C. Druce, 



edited, with an introduction, by Prof. Vines. We hope to notice it 



in an early issue. 



Acting on the principle that u forewarned is forearmed,'' Mr. 

 E. S. Salmon, the mycologist of the South-Eastern Agricultural 

 College, Wye, has been doing his best to inform gardeners and 

 fruit-growers of a danger that threatens them in the advent of a 

 new gooseberry disease. It is a white mildew, belonging to the 

 same family of fungi as the hop-mildew, and it fastens on leaves 

 and fruit, weakening the bushes, and preventing the growth of the 

 berries, or rendering them unfit for consumption. The disease is 

 indigenous to America, and has doubtless been transported to 

 Europe along with some young bushes. The fungus made its 

 appearance in Ireland, where it was identified in 1900, and where 

 it has now spread over a considerable area. Eecently it has turned 

 up in England, in Worcestershire, imported, it is strongly sus- 

 pected, on gooseberry bushes and on Ribes aureum from the Conti- 

 nent; for the Continent of Europe has also been invaded since 

 about the year 1900. The mycologists there, however, are on the 

 alert, and, with Government aid, are trying to stamp out the pest. 

 Mr. Salmon's efforts have unfortunately been hampered by the 

 action oi Mr. Massee, the expert for the Board of Agriculture, who 

 alleged that the disease was not new, that it was comparatively 

 harmless, and that it could easily be kept in control by the use of 

 fungicides. Mr. Salmon's contention is that for this disease fungi- 

 cides are of comparatively little use, and that Government aid is 

 necessary to stop all importation of bushes for a time. It is fatally 

 easy for Governments and for people to do nothing, and a willing 

 ear is lent to the man who advises that policy ; so no attempt has 

 yet been made to check importation. The Board of Agriculture 

 has, however, recognized that there is need for watchfulness, and 

 has issued a leaflet warning growers of the serious nature of the 

 disease. More active measures will be taken, we do not doubt, 

 when once the fungus has become thoroughly established, and we 

 shall have the satisfaction of shutting the stable-door after the 

 steed has been stolen. 



