EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. 



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tree, he reported, was planted eighteen years ago, but for the last 

 two years it had been attacked by some malady, the affection 

 proceeding rapidly downwards. The soil in which it grew was 

 a strong sandy clay, but well drained. No insect could be 

 detected upon the boughs by Mr. McLachlan. Mr. Veitch 

 suggested the cold wet season, and probably an injurious sub- 

 soil, as being the causes. Professor Ward remarked that a 

 sudden thaw chilling the roots would produce such an effect 

 as the tree in question showed, or an east wind catching the 

 side of a plantation would be a sufficient cause. The fungus 

 Hysterium pini, which produces black spots, gives rise to a 

 similar appearance, but the specimen showed scarcely any sus- 

 picion of this disease. Professor Ward observed that the effect 

 of frost in April is often recognised by the bases of the leaf- 

 shoots remaining green, in consequence of the protection afforded 

 them by the sheathing scales. 



Abies Nordmanniana. — Dr. Scott reported as follows upon 

 the specimens exhibited at the last meeting : " It appears that 

 the burr-like mass of branches with paler yellowish-green foliage 

 is due to the presence of iEcidium elatinum. The mycelium of 

 this fungus w T as abundant in the stunted leaves and in the 

 abnormal portions of the stem, the development of the leaves 

 being much affected. The diseased leaves show no differentia- 

 tion of palisade and spongy parenchyma ; few chlorophyll 

 granules are developed, and there is a marked deficiency of 

 starch. This last-mentioned fact is, no doubt, a cause of the 

 imperfect development of the wood in the infected branches." 

 Prof. Marshall Ward, who had also examined it, added that he 

 discovered a few spermogonia, but no " a?cidium " sporanges. It 

 is the same uredinous fungus which causes the " Witch's 

 brooms," and is mostly, if not invariably, confined to Abies, for 

 Dr. Masters remarked that he had met with it, if it be the same 

 species, in Pinus austriaca, P. Strobus, and P. sylvestris, and 

 other species. Mr. Ward added that the fungus has a very 

 remarkable stimulating effect on the cambium, and alters the 

 botanical characters of the part affected, rendering the leaves 

 annual. Mr. Michael had also examined the branch above 

 referred to for the presence of any insects, and, although having 

 nothing to do with the cause of the alteration of structure, he 

 found a Tarsonymus, but no phytopti. It is a leaf-miner, and 



