Cross 1(171 d : The Study of Fungi in Yorkshire. 155 



numerous other investigations and experiments, seed barley has 

 been treated to try and protect the resulting plants from the 

 attack of that nasty disease known as smut. The clover sickness 

 induced b}^ a Discomycetous fungus which considerably reduces 

 the value of the crop, has been studied ; also the potato-scab ; 

 and the cause why potatoes rot when stored in ' pies ' in fields and 

 other places ; and a black mould— Helminthosporium — which 

 does much damage to oats and barley. Economic work of 

 this nature is of great practical utility, and growers of field 

 and garden produce ought to take every advantage of the 

 valuable information resulting from such necessary investi- 

 gations. Dr. vSmith is President of the Botanical section of 

 the Union. 



Dr. T. W. Woodhead, Biological Department, Hudders- 

 field Technical College, and joint editor of the ' Naturalist,' 

 has made a detailed study of the nodules found on alder roots, 

 also of the organism which produces them, known as Schinzia 

 alni ; the life history of this organism was traced through its 

 successive stages within the tissues of the nodule. Dr. Wood- 

 head has done much original work in the Ecology of woodland, 

 and other vegetation in several districts, and is at present Chair- 

 man of the Botanical Survey Committee of the Union. 



The latest development in the Mycological Committee has 

 been to apportion the work, and make certain individuals 

 responsible for certain groups. This will facilitate the inves- 

 tigations both throughout the year, and at the annual forays. 

 The present Committee consists of : — G. Massee, Kew, Presi- 

 dent ; C. Crossland, Secretary, Halifax ; Rev. Canon Fowler, 

 Liversedge ; Harold Wager, Leeds ; A. Clarke, Huddersfield ; 

 W. N. Cheesman, Selby ; Thos. Gibbs, Derby ; C. H. Broad- 

 head, Wooldale; J. W." H. Johnson, Thornhill ; R. H. Philip, 

 Hull ; and H. C. Hawley, Boston, Lines. 



Annual forays have been held in various parts of the county 

 since 1891. Each successive meeting, coupled with individual 

 effort through the year, has added to the stock of information. 

 Constant additions have been made to the county flora. It 

 would be tedious to give the particulars of each year's work, 

 though such a table would be interesting. Let it be sufficient 

 to say that during the last twenty years the number of known 

 Yorkshire fungi has been more than doubled, and the knowledge 

 of their distribution considerably increased ; and that, within 

 this period, twenty-nine species new to science, and sixty-five 



1908 April I : . , 



