158 
y 
(a) Some asparagus berries which had been gathered in September, 
1880, were found, a month or two later, to show black spots in the in¬ 
terior. In the blackened substance of the berry, mycelial threads were 
frequently found, but fruiting specimens were rare. The black spots 
were thought to be due to chemical changes in the berry produced by 
fungi. The fungus which causes this is probably Penicillium glaucum. 
The determination was made according to the figure of this fungus 
given by Beale.* 
The contents of the berry would seem to furnish a favorable medium 
for the growth of fungi. Beinsch, in 1870 (according to the National 
Dispensatory 1879, p. 249); found in the berries considerable grape 
sugar. 
(b) External spotting of the berry is due to the growth of fungi on 
the surface. This was noticed in berries which remained on the stems 
some time after ripening. The stems are covered at times with a black 
incrustation which may extend to the berry and involve more or less 
of its surface. The most common cause of this is the growth of Clado- 
sporium. 
This brief note will have fully served its purpose if it calls attention 
to these growths and thus better fruited specimens (than I have as yet 
found) are secured. As is well known, the most common fungi on de- 
< aying vegetable matter are Macrosporium and Cladosporium. J. B. 
Ellis (in letter of January 28, 1887), has said: 
It is not improbable that with the proper degree of beat and moisture one or the 
other of these would make its appearance on the berries in the form of a velutiuous or 
line liair-like growth of fertile threads bearing the spores or couidia peculiar to one or 
the other of these genera. 
At present nothing farther can with certainty be said. 
AH EXPERIMENT IN PREVENTING THE INJURIES OF POTATO- 
ROT (Phytophthora injestans .)t 
By Clarence M. Weed. 
(1) The experiment reported by the author was undertaken to de¬ 
termine what effect the application of a solution of sulphate of copper 
and lime (known as the Bordeaux mixture) to the foliage of potatoes 
would have in preventing the injuries of the potato-rot, and was con¬ 
ducted on the grounds of the Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station. 
(2) Fifceen feet at the end of each of twenty rows of potatoes were 
* Microscope in Medicine, fourth edition, Fig. 7, Plate XXV. 
t Summary of a paper read before the Society for the Promotion of Agricultural 
Science, August 27, 1889. 
