1 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



vomiting, and especially derangement of nerve centres, producing 

 dizziness and a staggering gait, like that of a drunken man. 

 The grain of Rye, being less covered by the chaff, is more liable to 

 have the fungus upon it than is the case with the Wheat. Prof. 

 Woronin last year was called upon by the Russian Government 

 to investigate a series of cases in which the above-named 

 symptoms were produced by its consumption. He came to the 

 conclusion, however, that the poisonous properties were induced 

 rather by Fusarium roseum than by the Oladosporium, although 

 the latter was very abundant on the affected grains. As will be 

 seen from the specimens sent, the Oladosporium is especially 

 abundant on the chaff. Such a development of parasitic life can- 

 not but be detrimental to the Wheat affected by it, and it is 

 probable that the Oladosporium has much to do with the poor 

 yield so many agriculturists complain of this year. This is a 

 subject which the Agricultural Department should inquire into 

 at once." 



Gronartium ribicola. — Mr. Plowright also sent specimens of 

 Pinus Strobus attacked by the ascidiform stage of this fungus, 

 with the following communication : " At a recent meeting of the 

 Scientific Committee specimens of this fungus on Currant leaves 

 were exhibited, gathered in the garden of Mr. C. G. Boyes, Oak- 

 wood House, Setch, near King's Lynn. On the 13th of August I 

 again visited the garden and examined the Pines, in order to 

 find if possible the branches affected by the Peridermium. This 

 I was successful in doing, and herewith send one of the affected 

 branches. It will be seen that the mycelium of the Peridermium 

 has caused hypertrophy of the affected branch. The peripheral 

 extremity bears a sickly tuft of foliage, but the branch itself is 

 evidently dying, although at its base it shows the enlargement 

 due to the mycelium extending downwards. There are two trees 

 affected about fifteen yards from the Currant bushes. I have 

 also observed the Cronartium on Currants in the garden at Mid- 

 dleton Rectory." A vote of thanks was given to Mr. Plowright 

 for his interesting communications. 



Green-fruited Elder. — Mr. Henslow exhibited sprays of this 

 rare form of the common Elder from a tree in his garden at 

 Ealing. The foliage differs from the common form in being 

 darker in colour, the two halves of a leaflet approximating each 

 other as in the Portugal Laurel, the marginal teeth being curved 



