264 Annual Report for 1906 of the Consulting Botanist. 
United States from Europe. The fungus was unknown in 
Europe until 1900, when Mr. Massee determined that specimens 
of diseased gooseberries from the north of Ireland, sent to him 
by Mr. Moore, keeper of the Glasnevin Botanic Gardens, were 
attacked by the American gooseberry mildew. He announced 
this in the Gardeners' Chronicle, August 25, 1900, figuring and 
describing the fungus, and suggesting treatment for keeping 
it in check. Mr. E. S. Salmon (the author of a monograph 
of the group of fungi to which Sphcerotheca belongs), having 
had his attention called by Mr. Massee to the blight appearing 
in Antrim, published an account of the fungus in the annual 
volume of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Journal, issued 
in November, 1900. In 1901, the disease was observed in 
Sweden and Russia, and in November this year (1906), its 
occurrence in Worcestershire was recorded. Mr. Salmon 
has most diligently and perseveringly urged that legislative 
measures be immediately taken to prevent the spread of this 
disease. Before the disease was detected in the nursery in 
Worcestershire, many young bushes had been disposed of, and 
there is reason to fear that these may have carried the infection 
over a wide area. Since the appearance of the fungus six 
years ago, the disease has spread extensively in the European 
localities where it was detected, and it has attacked the goose- 
berry in other countries of Europe. 
Miscellaneous. 
The purple orchid {Orchis mascula Linn.) was thought by 
a member to be a dangerous plant, like the meadow saffron. 
It is, however, quite innocent ; the fresh tuber when dried 
and ground forms salep, which was largely used as a nutritious 
drink until it was replaced by the more general use of coffee. 
On the other hand every part of the meadow saffron is most 
injurious to stock. 
A member proposing to undertake the cultivation of Para 
rubber {Hevea Brasiliensis) obtained information as to that 
plant and its cultivation. Another proposes to cultivate the 
castor oil plant for the production of oil, and his inquiries 
were dealt with. 
Advice was given as to the methods of cultivation of the 
sunflower, also for the production of oil. This plant might 
yield a remunerative crop to the English farmer. It produces 
a valuable oil and the crushed seeds make a nutritious feeding 
cake. Unless, however, there are facilities for extracting the 
oil in convenient oil mills the cultivation of the plant should 
not be entered upon. 
Assistance has been rendered to several public bodies. The 
seeds for the parks under the management of H.M. Office of 
