348 THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION, September 1, 1857. 
Oidium Tuckeri as the cause of the disease admit the pre¬ 
disposition. The same Berenger, speaking of the Erysiphe, 
says, “ Its luxuriant development ( generaiio floccipara) is 
the true and natural cause of the immense dilfusion of the 
cryptogam, and consequently the immediate cause, although 
not the only one, of the present malady of the Vines. I say 
not the only one , because it is not only probable, but almost 
certain, that it would not produce that pernicious effect if a 
certain number of Vines, either by individual constitution, 
by asthenia, or by some other pathological state, were not 
in a certain manner predisposed to receive it.” 
Now, I ask, if you grant the predisposition, in what con¬ 
sists, what is, this particular anomalous state of the Vine ? 
If it had been a small vineyard only, or a few plants situated 
here and there in special localities, it is possible that con¬ 
ditions might be found to account plausibly for the phe¬ 
nomenon. But the question is that of a most extensive fact, 
of a disease, which, like an epidemic, has spread successively 
over the whole of Europe where Vines are cultivated. In 
this case how can the predisposition be explained? It 
appears to me that the cause of the predisposition remains 
as obscure as the cause of the disease. 
I have said that I incline to believe that the cryptogam 
does not produce the disease. My opinion founded on the 
experiment of inoculation is confirmed by the fact, that, 
among the numerous observations I have made, I have 
never succeeded in seeing a single filament of the mycelium 
of the cryptogam without discovering also an alteration in 
the cellules of the epidermis of the Grape immediately 
under the cuticular membrane. Such alterations first show 
themselves in a cellule by a change of colour of the chloro¬ 
phyll, which from green passes to a pale yellow, the fluid 
contained thickens and loses its transparency, subsequently 
crystals are formed, and granulations of various sizes, first 
of a bay, then of a brown colour. The cellulose, or the 
membrane which forms the sides of the cell, at the same 
time thickens and becomes coloured. This organ is now 
dead, and the lateral adjacent cells, going through the same 
changes, end also by losing all life. Thus are formed broad 
dark-coloured spots visible to the naked eye, and which 
extend even over the whole subcutaneous stratum of the 
epidermis when the alteration has commenced at several 
points at once, and the spots have extended so as to run 
together and unite with each other. Sign. Adolpho Targioni 
Tozzetti gave last year to the Academy a very clear account 
of the changes which took place successively in the Grape, 
and of the apparent seat of the malady. My observations 
confirm his. I likewise agree with him that the connection 
between the fungus supposed to be parasitical and the 
organs of the Grape cannot be established but through the 
cuticular membrane, which in no one instance, not even 
immediately over the diseased cellules, is found to be per¬ 
forated. No sucker can be discovered to proceed from the 
mycelium and penetrate into the internal membrane of the 
Grape. 
When the cryptogam has appeared, its horizontal filaments 
extend, passing chiefly over the spotted spaces, which cir¬ 
cumstance may be alleged in favour of the opinion that by 
some invisible communication the fungus exercises some 
pernicious influence on the Grape; but for myself, having 
put forward the idea that the cryptogam is not the cause of 
the disease, an idea which is also mentioned by Sig. Brignoli, 
in his learned Memoir on the Crambe, I am disposed 
to interpret this fact differently, and I say that if the fungus 
vegetates on the diseased Grape, it is because it there finds 
the proper aliment for its support. This aliment is most 
probably derived from the fluids exuding from the de¬ 
composed cells of the epidermis. It is therefore most 
natural that the filaments in lengthening should follow the 
direction of spots where they find a nutritive fluid. This 
fluid must be in an exceedingly minute quantity, for when 
the Grape bursts the fungus never spreads or penetrates 
into the interior, where it might be supposed to find in 
greater abundance, and to absorb more readily, the fluids it 
requires. 
As I have mentioned the bursting, the final destruction 
of the Grape, I will add the manner in which I account for 
it. In the circular field of the microscope I counted up the 
number of angular cells on the surface of the portion of the 
epidermis comprised within it. Having subjected to the 
same test green and ripe Grapes of various sizes, I always 
found that the number of cells contained in the same visible 
surface corresponded very nearly in an inverse ratio to the 
squares of the diameter of the Grape. From this I con¬ 
clude that the Grape in enlarging in size does not increase 
the number of its cellules, but that these are distended in 
proportion. Now if by the effect of the disease, or from any 
other cause, the cellulose, as it happens in this case, loses 
its life, and consequently the faculty of distending, it is 
evident that the growth of the internal unaffected parts 
would cause a pressure, and force the epidermis to burst.— 
(Horticultural Society’s Journal.) 
BRITISH POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY’S MEETING. 
A Meeting of the British Pomological Society was held 
at the rooms, St. Martin’s Hall, Long Acre, on Thursday, 
the 28th ult., R. Hogg, Esq., Y.P., in the chair. 
Mr. Rivers, of Sawbridgeworth, submitted a collection of 
early Peaches which had been grown in an orchard house, 
with the view of showing the comparative qualities and 
earliness of the different varieties. The first was the old 
Red Nutmeg , now very seldom cultivated, but the earliest 
of all Peaches, and which, compared with the Petite Mi- 
gnonne, was very inferior. This is a very excellent early 
Peach, nicely flavoured, and vinous. The Early Anne was of 
good flavour, but, from being shaded and late in the season, 
it was pale in colour. Early York is a remarkably fine 
Peach, about medium sized, and with a very tender flesh, 
which literally melts away in the mouth, and with a rich 
sugary and vinous juice. This is, without exception, the 
finest early Peach we have ever seen. Belle de Croix is also 
a very excellent variety, sweet, and vinous, as is also Precoce 
de Savoie, which is very brisk and vinous. Peche a Bee and 
Peche de Doue were also exhibited, but were scarcely suffi¬ 
ciently ripe. Of the whole collection the Early York Avas by 
far the finest, and one which ought to be found in every col¬ 
lection, not only for its earliness, but for its remarkably rich, 
sugary, and vinous flavour. 
Dr. Davies, of Pershore, sent specimens of the fruit of 
three seedling Plums raised in his neighbourhood. Jemmy 
Moore was thought by the Meeting to be very much like 
Sharp's Emperor. Old Noll exhibited the properties of a 
good kitchen Plum; and Brandy Gage , which was unfortu¬ 
nately too much decayed, had every appearance of being a 
rich-flavoured and excellent dessert Plum. 
Mr. Rivers also exhibited small Pear trees on the Quince 
stock, completely laden with fruit, of the varieties Belle d'Aout 
and Beurre Goubault. The former is an excellent early 
Pear, large, and of a turbinate form, with a crisp, breaking, 
very juicy, and sweet flesh. 
James Biggar, Esq., of Maryholme, Dumfries, sent 
fruit of a seedling Gooseberry, Avhich was almost trans¬ 
parent, but it had suffered so much by carriage that the 
Meeting was not enabled to come to a decision upon its 
merits. 
SMALL DRONES. 
We are greatly obliged to Mr. Moore, of Strafford, near 
Manchester, for the small drone bee which he kindly 
sent us. It differs in no way from a common drone 
except that it is nearly two sizes less in bulk. This dAvarf 
male bee might pass for a large Cousin John, or Fiddler, as 
that insect is called in Scotland. We give the local names, 
not having Mr. Curtis at hand. There are several kinds of 
them, and they often survive late in the autumn on Fv r y 
blossoms, long after the hum of bees has ceased. If we mis¬ 
take not their eggs are laid and hatched in stagnant water, 
and in very different places from the heart of a bee-hive. 
Until noAv Ave only knew of small drones by hearsay, and, in 
case there may be any doubts on the subject, we cannot do 
better than give Mr. Moore’s own account of the capture of 
the small one in our possession. He says, “ I found the 
male bee on the ground in front of the hive at 8.15 yesterday. 
Thinking it Avas a young Avorker I placed it at the entrance 
of the hive, Avhich it quickly entered. As it did so I 
suspected it was a small drone, but it Avas gone. In a few 
