194 
III. 
OJI THE FUNGOID DISEASES OF CEEEALS. 
Ey Rev. J. ]\I. Du Port, M.A. 
Read ^oth Nov., 1880. 
Ix a county like Norfolk, in wliicli a largo portion of the .soil is 
devoted to the growth of corn, it cannot he out of place to caU the 
attention of Naturalists to some of the fungoid diseases which often 
cause great losses to the agriculturists. 
Many parasitic fungi are to be found on the stalks and in the 
ears of our corn plants, but as my attention lias during this year 
been given cliiefly to that known by the farmer as “ Mildew,” and 
by botanists as various species of Puceinia, 1 shall devote the 
chief part of this paper to the consideration of that particular 
malady. I am not going to proclaim any new discoveries, but my 
object is to bring together some well-proved facts which are chiefly 
to be found described in publications not always easily accessible, 
and to invite Naturalists to enter upon a field of observation, often 
overlooked, but replete with objects of great beauty, and promising, 
as a reward of the patience necessary to a successful exploratio^ 
results of great imiiortance. ’ 
^ The presence of this Mildew in its last stages is easily recog- 
nised ; the black lines on the discoloured straw tell their tale to 
the most superficial observer. Those who are content with 
expressing tlieir sympathy with the farmer whose crops are thus 
damaged, without studying the life-liistory or seeking for the 
causes of this disease, are passing by one of Natm-e’s most 
interesting scenes, though it be hidden from the unaided eye ; 
