258 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. c September ie, mo. 
Mr. Smailes’. The latter was also first for two bunches of Muscat of 
Alexandria, averaging 3 lbs., large in berry, and of a richer amber in 
colour. Mr. Lawson also showed some good Peaches. Vegetables 
were excellent. With the perseverance of the Treasurer (Mr. Easton), 
and Secretary (Mr. Dobby), this Show, already good, will no doubt 
improve annually. 
Not for competition were a stand of Phlox Drummondi, containing 
some excellent flowers of a rich violet shade, by Thos. Binks, Esq., 
South Shields (gardener, Mr. Bone) ; Mr. John Hmde contributing 
a stand of dwarf Capsicums, finely coloured, and the foliage of a rich 
glaucous green. 
FUNGI A RESULT, NOT A CAUSE OF DISEASE. 
Why should “S.” entertain feelings of regret “that our opinions 
regarding Ihe relation of fungi to diseases in plants are entirely 
at variance 1 ” The earnest tone of his communication shows at 
any rate tl at we are at one in that respect, and if by discussion we 
can obtain a better light to aid us in our search after truth there 
can be nothing to regret. Both “ S.” and Mr. Harrison Weir 
invite me to support my views by something more than mere 
assertion ; and gladly do I hasten to do so, for the subject is one of 
considerable importance, erroneous views of it undoubtedly leading 
to wrong and probably mischievous attempts to obtain a remedy. 
Taking the Potato disease first as an example with which we 
are all unfortunately familiar, when are fungi perceptible in the 
Potato ? Before the plague spot appears or afterwards ? Invariably 
afterwards ; and mark this, If the weather continues hot and dry 
after growth ceases in the tubers no plague spots appear, and con¬ 
sequently no fungus, but the haulm decays naturally and the crop 
is safe and sound. Observe further, that if upon growth ceasing 
in the tubers showers occur only for a day or two, plague spots 
promptly appear, and continue to spread to the serious hurt of 
the crop, no matter how hot and dry the weather may be after¬ 
wards ; so that the disease may be seen spreading in weather the 
reverse of favourable to the growth of fungi, or, in other words, 
not affording the “ particular temperature and moisture necessary” 
to its growth. Advocates of fungi as a cause of disease have no 
reason to complain of discourtesy or neglect in this particular 
instance, for the matter was fairly tried out at Chiswick, the 
Royal Horticultural Society allowing a leading advocate of the 
theory and well-known fungologist to apply his specific, termed 
“ Salus,” to a plot of Potatoes, without effect! 
Peach blister occurs in spring, and only in spring. It attacks 
tender foliage and the epidermis of young branches that are 
exposed to the scathing infii enc) of cold winds from the north¬ 
east that are then usually pievalent. Protect the young growth 
from the cold winds and no blister appears, and consequently no 
fungi. I have proved this year after year in a variety of ways, 
accounts of which have from time to time been published in the 
Journal. Observant men of established character and position in 
various parts of the country have likewise proved it, as, in fact, 
anybody possessing ordinary powers of observation may do. Let 
us not forget that the midsummer growth of Peach trees is equally 
tender, equally sensitive to blight in “leafy June,” when a genial 
temperature and frequent showers—so favourable to the growth 
of fungi—prevails, and yet no fungi appears, simply because there 
are no cutting blasts to blister the foliage and produce a suitable 
medium for its spores to vegetate in. 
If shanking of Grapes is caused by a fungus, how is it that I 
have Vines growing in the same border under precisely similar 
conditions, some of which have not a faulty berry and others have 
shanking more or less in every bunch ? Experience enables me 
to assert that overcropping is the cause in some instances and 
debility in others. I hope to renew that portion of the border in 
which the Vines showing tokens of debility are growing, and if 
this is done thoroughly one may look forward very confidently to 
a thorough cure next year. The fact of the fungus only being 
found upon “the little pieces shanked” of otherwise fine bunches 
to my mind affords positive proof of it being a result of disease. 
If it were not so, what is to prevent the mycelium from spreading 
over the entire bunch t 
Mr. Harrison Weir’s denial of the existence of an analogy 
between plant and animal life is decidedly in opposition to the 
teachings of modern science. This may perhaps best be shown 
by a brief quotation or two from the teachings of a professor of 
vegetable physiology :—“ We lop off the early shoots of our fruit 
trees in order to direct the nutriment into the flowering and 
fructifying parts, instead of allowing it to be spent in the growth 
of (to us) useless new tissue. The creeping roots of our Straw¬ 
berries are religiously cut off for similar reasons ; for in this case, 
as in some of that of the lower animals, propagation takes a two¬ 
fold shape—by flowering (as animals by eggs) and by means of a 
stoloniferous root (as such animals as compound corals and hydras 
by that process termed budding). Every plant, therefore, is as 
distinct an individual as a coral animal, and is even better able to 
propagate new individuals. One does so by specialising certain 
parts of the tissue to form ova or eggs, the other to form seeds. 
The analogy may be carried further still. All animals are pro¬ 
vided with a certain store of nutriment to assist in their growth 
until they can obtain sustenance for themselves. In the eggs of 
all living creatures the bulk contains three-fourths of such stored- 
up material, which is unconsciously and imperceptibly absorbed 
into the structure of the newly developed animal. Similarly as is 
seen in our beans, peas, acorns, &c., there is a supply of albumen 
and starch for the nourishment of the young seed gerin until 
it can strike root into the ground on its own account, assimilate 
the soluble mineral matter it finds there, and deoxidise the atmo¬ 
sphere of its necessary aliment.” 
The subject is so seductive that one might fill many pages in 
refutation of Mr. Harrison Weir’s singular assertion. Fruits and 
leaves absorb carbonic acid and give out oxygen by day ; at night 
this chemical action is reversed. All the various substances now 
known to exist in the atmosphere are found alike in vegetable and 
animal bodies, and bear a direct relation to organic life ; more¬ 
over, the atmosphere contains ra an elementary form nearly all the 
substances found in vegetables, just as it does most of those found 
in animals. 
Bernays’ “ Student’s Chemistry ” throws great light upon the 
intimate analogy in existence between plants and animals. Speak¬ 
ing of the diffusive power of gases he says:—“ But for this law 
there could be no life. Vegetation must languish and die for 
want of a supply of carbonic acid, which by this provision is 
wonderfully and completely diffused throughout all the particles 
of air. The watery vapour, of no less importance, would not keep 
flexible the skins of animals and supply parched vegetation with 
rain and dew. In the process of respiration the minute cells of 
the lungs, in which the aeration of the blood takes place, would 
not be emptied at each exhalation of the heavy carbonic acid 
which they contain, but the operation would after a few minutes 
be suspended, and death inevitably ensue.” 
This last quotation will, I hope, carry conviction to every 
thoughtful mind that the same natural laws affect in a very 
similar manner animal and vegetable life, and tend to prove that 
very similar conditions are alike necessary for health. To enforce 
the lesson in more homely phraseology I may add that fresh air, 
wholesome food, and cleanliness are alike good for animals and 
vegetables, and the want of them causes sickness and debility in 
both.—E dward Luckhurst. 
HYBRID ODONTOGLOSSUMS. 
I might have been a little more explicit in my remarks on the 
hybrid Odontoglossum in my descriptive notes of Lee Hall on 
page 192. The hybrid alluded to has not been raised by Mr. 
Glover, but I understand was found amongst some imported 
Orchids that were purchased ; it proved to be quite distinct, and 
is supposed by good authorities to be a cross between Odonto¬ 
glossum luteo-purpureum and O. Lindleyanum.—W m. Bardney. 
Concerhing “Single-handed's” inquiry about hybrid Odon- 
toglossums on page 235, I believe he is correct in stating that we 
have no evidence as to a hybrid having been obtained between 
any two species of that genus in this country. But at the same 
time there are several forms that are reasonably regarded as 
“ natural hybrids,” from their being intermediate in character 
between other species. The best known of these probable hybrids 
are Odontoglossum Humeanum (0. cordatum and 0. Rossii), 0. 
Murrellianum (O. Pescatorei and 0. nfevium), and 0. Coradinei 
(0. triumphans and O. odoratum). As regards Cattleya Manglesii 
Mr. F. W. Burbidge, in his work on the improvement of cultivated 
plants, states that C. Mossiae was the seed-bearing plant crossed 
with C. Loddigesii.—D. 
TIIE POTATO DISEASE. 
The extract from the Times I put at the end of my last com¬ 
munication does not appear to have given general satisfaction, 
although I think the remarks are true in the main. One part of 
it is perhaps not altogether correct— i.e., that gardeners have been 
careless about their seed Potatoes. Some of them I know have been 
careful with those tubers selected for seed. I still adhere to my 
original statement, but in referring to the apathy of the growers, 
&c., my observation was a general one, and not intended to apply 
to any particular class. Having quoted from a leading article in 
the Times I will now refer to one in the Daily News of 23rd 
August last—“ The agricultural returns lately published show 
that in Great Britain alone 550,931 acres have been planted with 
