October 19, 1882. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 371 
spawn threads or growing points emerge from both sides of these 
Uredo spores ; the places from which the threads are destined to 
emerge may be seen in the three seeds to the left. One of the 
threads is, however, generally aborted, whilst the whole contents 
of the spore is poured into the growing thread of spawn. A point 
of great importance here arises :—If these Uredo spores from the 
Wheat are planted again upon other Wheat leaves they germinate, 
enter the organs of transpiration at once, and produce other 
Uredo spores in the Wheat: this process is so exactly like the 
germination of the iEcidium spores from the Barberry upon the 
Wheat that it is unnecessary to illustrate it; for if oval spores 
are substituted for the round ones at N, n, the germination of 
the spores and the entry of the spawn into the organs of tran¬ 
spiration is precisely the same in both. The following point is 
now to be specially noted. The Uredo spores of Wheat will not 
effectually grow upon, or enter the organs of transpiration of the 
Barberry. 
Before leaving this part of the subject we must call attention 
to the fact that if the yellowish ulcers of the Wheat leaves are 
examined with the microscope later in the autumn we shall find 
a new series of spores or seeds, and instead of the spores being all 
oval as at T, a large number of them (and in some instances all) 
will be found divided into two by a partition, as at w. This 
partition, which divides the spores, really doubles their number, 
for each of these pieces at maturity is capable of germination. 
The partition now seen across the spores or seeds is of the greatest 
importance, for it is one of the chief links in the series of pheno¬ 
mena seen in Corn Mildew, and prepares the way for the next 
and most important stage of the disease. 
If we examine mildewed corn at harvest time we shall see the 
straw spotted and streaked with minute jet black patches, as 
illustrated natural size at x. This is another condition of the 
original ailment; it extends to the parched and withered leaves 
and even to the ears ; it is also to be seen in perfection in stacked 
corn and straw six or nine months after harvest. These black 
spots are looked upon as the most perfect state of the fungus of 
Corn Mildew, and known to botanists as Puccinia graminis. If 
these black ulcers are magnified twenty times, as we have magni¬ 
fied the previous pustules, they will be seen as at Y, bursting 
through the skin of the Wheat plant. The burst and frayed skin 
is seen in the illustration all round each black ulcer. The ulcer 
is full of black dust, and the nature of this ulcer and its dust will 
be seen if a transverse section is made as before and magnified 
fifty diameters as at z. It will now be noticed that the seeds, 
instead of being yellowish and round or oval, they are larger in 
size, oval in outline, dark brown in colour, distinctly divided in 
two by a partition, and each seed is supported on a transparent 
stalk ; these seeds fly out of the pustule when ripe, and may break 
in two as illustrated. Now when these seeds or spores are mag¬ 
nified to the same scale as the previous spores—viz., six hundred 
diameters, or 360,000 times superficial, they are seen as at 1. 
These seeds, although ripe in the autumn, will not germinate till 
the following spring ; they are, therefore, resting spores destined 
to carry the fungus through the vicissitudes of winter. Too 
much m jisture, too much dryness, or a slight amount of frost will 
destroy all ordinary fungus spores, but these autumn-produced 
spores are wrapped in thick coats, and the usual amount of 
drought, wet, and frost peculiar to Europe does them no injury 
whatever. In the spring of the following year they are ready for 
mischief, and they exist in uncountable millions on the old straw 
of stables, about pigstyes, dung heaps, and in all places where 
the previous year’s straw is to be found. They germinate in April 
and May in the style illustrated at 2—both lobes of the compound 
seed throw out a transparent tube as illustrated—these tubes 
grow to a certain definite length, twist partly round like a shep¬ 
herd’s crook, three partitions form themselves in the crook end, 
the top three (sometimes four) pieces each protrude a slender 
tube, and each of these tubes carries a small yellowish seed or 
spore. The compound spores of two lobes have now by growth, 
increased their power threefold, for there are now six spores 
instead of two, as at 3, 3. Uulike the brown compound resting 
spores of two divisions, these transparent little oval spores 3, 3, 
are ready to germinate at once as at 4 ; but will they blow on to 
the corn and reproduce the mildew ? According to Mr. Plow¬ 
right’s observations they will not. If they are placed on young 
Wheat leaves they have no effect, but if they are put on Barberry 
leaves they germinate at once, their roots or spawn threads per¬ 
meate the interior of the Barberry leaf in every direction, and 
speedily cause the production of the Barberry fungus (AScidium 
Berberidis), described at the beginning of this article. The Bar¬ 
berry fungus soon gets ripe and produces myriads of seeds, these 
seeds are blown over the cornfields, and Wheat mildew is the 
result. All the phenomena we have described are once more 
repeated, and so the fungus of Corn Mildew goes on from year to 
year. 
NOTES ON PEACHES AND NECTARINES. 
I WAS very much interested in Mr. Iggulden’s article on varie¬ 
ties of Peaches and Nectarines, and wish to supplement two good 
varieties, especially as they are allied to two varieties he writes 
rather disparagingly of ; and they are Rivers’ Early York Peach 
and Albert Victor Nectarine. I know the old Early York very 
well, and I have the same opinion of it as Mr. Iggulden, but 
Rivers’ Early York I think is all that can be desired for a Peach 
for the outside wall. Mr. Rivers correctly describes it as follows 
—“ Medium size ; skin marbled with red ; flesh so melting and 
juicy as to dissolve in the mouth, leaving no fibre.” Its flavour 
has a smack of the Stan wick Nectarine, and I will add the tree is 
very hardy and prolific, and fruit very highly coloured next to the 
sun. 
Albert Victor I think is a Nectarine that should be grown by 
everyone if they only have an unheated house. It is a very heavy 
cropper, the fruit is of large size, the flavour delicious, and I find it 
much better if placed on a warm shelf two days before being 
used. 
As most seasons are disastrous to Peach and Nectarine trees on 
outside walls, most people are recommending that they should 
be grown under Peach cases. But I think good results would be 
obtained if only the early varieties were planted and protected 
by tiffany at night whilst in bloom. I think the early varieties 
of Mr. Rivers and Hale’s Early with the new American variety 
Alexander, if all that is said in its favour be true, might be so 
grown, as we must remember everyone has not Peach houses to 
grow this delicious fruit. I find Noblesse sets its fruit freely if 
assisted by pollen from Royal George.—A. Young. 
Allow me to say a word in favour of the Early York Peach. 
Mr. Iggulden at page 335 condemns it, and considers it should 
be struck out of the catalogues. Here it is grown in the early 
house with Hale’s Early and Royal George Peaches and Rivers’ 
Orange Nectarine, and never fails to carry a heavy crop of 
medium-sized, well-coloured, and good-flavoured fruit. As a proof 
of the latter quality, a dish of fruit was sent in May to a well- 
known nobleman, who described them as the best Peaches he 
had ever tasted. 
Although a large-flowering variety it sets its fruit as freely as 
Royal George, and with us is not subject to mildew, and ripens 
about a week earlier. Hale’s Early under the same treatment 
ripens fully ten days before Early York, the three varieties form¬ 
ing a good succession for the early house. Hale’s Early I find 
does not open its flowers very freely when forced, but it does not 
fail to set a crop of large and well-coloured fruits. Prince of 
Orange Nectarine I am very pleased with. It also is a large- 
flowering variety, and sets its fruit very freely, is of good size, 
splendid in colour, and one of the best flavoured Nectarines.—G. S. 
Mr. Iggulden, in his notes under the above heading, page 335, 
says, “ Small and colourless fruits are of comparatively little value, 
especially in the markets, and for this reason such varieties as Early 
Beatrice, Early Louise, Early Albert, and Early Alfred will never 
be grown extensively.” I quite agree with the first part of 
Mr. Iggulden’s statement, but cannot perceive why the two last- 
named varieties are included in the list given, because they aie 
not colourless, and the last produces what might be termed large 
fruit. The fruit of Early Albert is not quite so large, but I have 
seen it a very deep crimson colour—in fact, nearly black, on the 
side fully exposed to the sun. Early Alfred also colours remark¬ 
ably well when raised above the foliage. When well grown this 
is a rather beautiful Peach, the flavour being good.—L. D. W. 
PROPOSED PINK SHOW IN 1883. 
If you do not utterly disapprove of my proposal I shall be 
pleased if you will permit me to appeal to readers of the Journal 
in behalf of an exhibition of Pinks, to be held next year in con¬ 
nection with the Pelargonium Society’s Exhibition at South 
Kensington. I should long since have sought your aid in this 
matter,"but I thought it best to wait for the programme of the 
Royal Horticultural Society, when having at command the date 
of the Show and other such necessary particulars. But the fixtures 
of the Royal Horticultural Society for 1883 arenotyet announced, 
and I am fearful that if I delay any longer making a formal 
declaration I may prove to be too late, w'hereas for the sake of 
the cause I would prefer to be too early. 
