SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE, OCTOBER 4. 



xlix 



lias been erected for the purpose of experiment and demonstra- 

 tion only, and would, I fear, be much too costly to be enforced 

 for general use in small houses ; but it is the first made, and 

 could probably be greatly simplified and reduced in cost. Col. 

 Dulier would be happy to exhibit the apparatus to the Fog Sub- 

 committee on their applying to him at 27 Sloane Gardens. The 

 apparatus used by the chemists who tested the absorption of 

 sulphurous acid, &c, is still in No. 51 Sloane Gardens, and Col. 

 Dulier would place it at the sen-ice of any chemist connected 

 with this Society who might be inclined to make further investi- 

 gations." 



The thanks of the Committee were given to Mr. Michael for 

 his report. 



White Ants from La Rochdle. — Mr. McLachlan exhibited 

 specimens of the Termes lucifugus received from La Rochelle, the 

 injuries caused by them having been described at a previous 

 meeting. They are small, being less than a quarter of an inch 

 long, and in the larval condition. 



Artichoke- Gall. — He 'also exhibited a specimen of a gall, 

 probably produced by some species of cynips. 



Gladosporium on Wlieat. — Mr. Plowright sent specimens 

 showing this disease, with the following communication : "During 

 the last season this disease has been exceedingly common in the 

 Wheat in various parts of England. No district has probably suf- 

 fered more from it than the eastern counties. It is often present 

 with us, but I have never seen it so abundant as this year. Whole 

 fields were blackened by it, and many persons mistook it for 

 Wheat mildew, with which, of course, it has no affinity. Until 

 recently the Gladosporium was regarded as a saprophyte, but 

 recent investigations show me that it can also exist as a true 

 parasite. During the harvest the difference between Wheat mil- 

 dew and the Cladosporium disease is very apparent, for where the 

 last named is present to any extent the reaping machine is sur- 

 rounded by a cloud of dust. There is nothing to prevent both 

 fungi occurring in a Wheat crop simultaneously, but, of course, the 

 mildew is not dusty. Prof. Eriksson, of Stockholm, a few years 

 ago called attention to the prevalence of Cladosporium on Eye in 

 Norway and Sweden, and pointed out that it all occurred on the 

 grain ; and further, that when the diseased Rye was consumed it 

 gave rise to a series of symptoms, among which were diarrhoea, 



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