SCIENTIFIC SUMMARY* 
313 
that asci have been observed on the gills of Agaricus melleus , but this was 
probably due to the presence of some species of Hypomyces ; and the 
observation has not been confirmed. Indeed, late examinations of the 
spores of some Coprimus under germination seem to show that impregna- 
tion takes place at a very early period, and that the result is a sporiferous 
fungus ; as in Ascobolus or Feziza, we have from the same process a spori- 
diferous fungus. The spores of Agaricus ascophorus were like those of allied 
Flammulce, and were *0004 in. in length. The dried gills did not show the 
spicules when moistened.” 
Remedies for the Vine Disease. — It appears, from a report supplied to the 
Trench Academy, that the most efficacious remedies for vines attacked with 
the phylloxera are alkaline sulphocarbonates, that of soda being the most 
effective. It is applied in solution, and destroys the insects without in- 
juring the vine. Not being, as yet, an article of commerce, it has had to be 
specially prepared. It is expected to be an economical application when it 
comes into general use, and a large demand is created. 
The late Mr. W. Wilson's Moss Herbarium has, according to the report of 
Mr. Carruthers,E.B,.S., been acquired by the British Museum. The reporter 
says (“ Journal of Botany,” June) : — “ The most important acquisition is the 
moss herbarium of the late William Wilson, of Warrington, the remaining 
portion of which was purchased from his executors during the year. Mr. 
Wilson had devoted his life to the study of mosses, was the author of the 
standard work on 1 British Mosses/ and of numerous memoirs on exotic 
species. His extensive herbarium contains the type specimens of those 
various works, and it abounds in original drawings prepared with singular 
accuracy, and with manuscript notes of great critical value. It consists of 
a collection of British mosses and J ungermannieae, as well as a collection of 
foreign specimens of these two orders. The British herbarium is accom- 
panied with an extensive correspondence with museologists, and includes 
numerous authentic specimens from Dawson Turner, Th. Taylor, Sir William 
Hooker, and other authors of species. Mr. Wilson’s herbarium of foreign 
mosses contains type specimens from the herbaria of Montagne, Bruch, 
Schimper, Angstrom, Mougeot, Zetterstedt, Hooker, Arnott, the Paris 
Museum, &c.” 
Return of the Botanist from Mr. Margary's Expedition . — The “Journal of 
Botany ” (May, 1875) states that Dr. John Anderson, the naturalist to the 
recent expedition to South-Eastern China, which met with so much opposi- 
tion from the natives, and resulted in the death of Mr. Margary, has returned 
to Calcutta, and is now on his way to England. He succeeded in escap- 
ing with his life, but lost all his property, including his collections and 
apparatus. 
Paris Botanical Prizes . — The Paris Academy of Sciences has awarded 
the following prizes for botanical work : The Barbier Prize (in part) to 
M. I. Chatin, for studies of the Valerianece ; the Desmazieres (1872) to 
M. M, Cornu, for a monograph of the Saproleguiece ; and 1,000 francs to 
M. Bornet, for his labours among lichens j 1,000 francs to M. Lefranc, for 
his paper on Atractylis gummifer ; the Desmazieres (1873) to M. Girodot, 
on the Lemaneacece (Algae) $ and 1,000 francs to MM. Van Tieghem and 
Lemonnier, on the Mucorinece ; the Bordin (1873) to M. J. Vesqu^, for the 
