CX PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Grapes diseased. — Samples of fruit, together with leaves, 

 were received from Mr. James Cameron, of The Gardens, Auch- 

 terarder House, attacked by Glasosporium. The leaves appear 

 to be scalded, so that the opinion of the Committee was that 

 this mischief should have been carefully avoided. Bordeaux 

 spray at a very early period of the attack might have proved 

 efficacious in checking it. 



Campanula Balchiniana x . — Dr. Masters exhibited drawings 

 of a remarkable phenomenon in this variety. The plant has 

 variegated leaves, and is a hybrid between C. fragilis and 

 C. isophylla. The sepals are foliaceous, with petioles, while 

 the ovary is entirely superior, and not inferior, as in all the 

 Carupanulaceae. A full description is given at page 271. 



Abnormal Fungi in a Mushroom Bed. — With reference to the 

 specimens shown at the last meeting, Mr. A. Sutton undertook to 

 transmit them to two eminent mushroom growers, who have 

 kindly sent the following reports : (1) " Replying to your letter 

 of the 13th with sample of fungus sent, which is unknown. 

 Without seeing the bed or knowing more particulars of the 

 materials used for the same, I could hardly say for certain 

 whether it is caused from the manure not being properly 

 sweetened or from the mould used for casing, most probably 

 from the latter, as I have found this so generally the cause of 

 fungus and mildew, the spores being introduced through the 

 mould ; especially, if this is used fresh from a pasture field, it 

 more often than not contains some kind of fungus. The only 

 plan to avoid this is to use mould, if possible, from an arable 

 field, or, without the turf, which has been stacked a year at 

 least, and when using mix a small quantity of salt or slacked 

 lime." (2) " Replying to your inquiry of the 13th inst., I beg to 

 inform you that the fungus sent is not frequently met with, but 

 I have seen some before. The reason one so seldom meets with 

 it on mushroom-beds is because the loam used in casing the beds 

 is usually procured from open ground, and not from the vicinity 

 of or from under trees. I have no doubt in the least but that 

 the fungus sent you is from the soil used, although soil used from 

 the same heap did not previously develop it, as perhaps the 

 previous lots of soil did not contain any of the spores, or that it 

 possibly generated subsequently. As several beds had been 

 cased from the same heap, I take it for granted that the soil 



