326 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, February 22, 1859. 
to be spotted, like diseased Potatoes—viz., to tlirust my 
finger-nail through the skin, and thus allow the mildew, 
if it were there, to come out. As 1 anticipated, in twenty- 
four hours the same species as that which was destroying 
the Potato (Botrytis infestans), was visible on that part of 
the Tomato in full fructification. 
“ With regard to the Apples, the process was slower; 
and, as they were very dry, no mildew appeared until I 
put them in a damp place, soon after which, two species 
sprung up—viz., Mucor mucedo, and Aspergillus glaucus, 
both very common moulds, of which I give you figures. 
1. Mucor mucedo, | 2. Aspergillus glaucus. 
Its spores. I J. Its spores. 
S. The mycelium of the mildews. 
The first is of a gelatinous colour ; the latter is at first 
white then grey, and lastly, dirty green. I ought also to 
state, that when I first received the Apples, I carefully 
examined the tissue beneath the spots, under the micros¬ 
cope, and found the mycelium of the mildew traversing 
the cells in all directions ; and, as is usual in all such 
cases, the parts thus infested had become brown, being in 
fact killed by it; some suppose by feeding on and ex¬ 
hausting their proper juices. I am also of opinion, that 
the threads of these mildews are very short-lived, and, 
dying amongst the cells, communicate decay to them. 
“ I should also mention, that at the time I made the 
incision in the spots, I also picked out small portions of 
the Apples where there were no spots ; and on these parts 
no mildew whatever has appeared up to the present time. 
I can, therefore, but draw the conclusion, that the spots 
are caused by the mycelium, or spawn, of the mildew 
above mentioned. 
“ It may, however, be objected, that as these mildews 
are not developed until decay sets in they may not be the 
primary cause of the disease, but an aftergrowth upon 
diseased tissue ; but a careful investigation of the habits 
of these minute plants, will afford the most convincing 
evidence of their mycelium establishing itselfupon various 
matrices while in, at least, an apparently healthy con¬ 
dition, and in a great measure reducing them to a state 
of decomposition long before the perfect plants bearing 
the reproductive spores make their appearance. These 
two mildews are found on some animal, and most veget¬ 
able substances, which contain either gum, sugar, starch, 
gluten, &c. The Aspergillus is the well-known cheese 
mould, the glory of Stilton; pleasant, but, I believe, not 
wholesome, having a tendency to produce tightness on 
the chest. The gelatinous mass called the ‘ vinegar 
fungus,’ has been also described by high authorities, as 
the mycelium of this mould; but most erroneously. This 
mass is, in fact, only the matrix (as an Apple or piece of 
cheese might be), on which the true mycelium creeps in 
fine threads, from which, in due time, the perfect plants 
arise in a dense tuft of upright stems, surmounted by 
heads formed of chains of spores, sometimes in the shape 
of a broom, at others quite round, as shown in the figure 
above.” 
Of the fruit in some of the collections exhibited, in 
competition for the premiums, and in which quality was 
desired as well as distinctness of kind, many ol the dishes 
were so much below mediocrity, that it became a question 
if the general merit of the collections sufficiently warranted 
the award of the premiums. With regard, therefore, to 
all future exhibitions of fruits for premiums ; excepting 
those cases in which collections are desired, regardless ot 
quality, for the purposes of comparison and classification ; 
it was resolved :—“ That in all future competitions, when 
quality is the point intended to be rewarded, the pre¬ 
miums will be withheld, if one-third of the fruit be con¬ 
sidered of decidedly inferior merit.” 
Two guineas and one guinea, for the best and second- 
best collections of six varieties of Late Dessert Pears. 
Open to growers only. 
Three collections were exhibited in this class.— Josiaii 
Moorman, Esq., sent from his garden at Bexhill, Sussex, 
situate half a mile from the sea, much exposed to south¬ 
west gales; soil, light loam, three feet deep, over un¬ 
drained clay; the following kinds from healthy young 
trees, on pear stocks, growing against a south-west wall: 
—Winter Nelis, large and well grown, very juicy and 
melting, sweet and generally excellent in flavour ;— 
Knight’s Monarch, juicy, melting, rich, and aromatic, 
but somewhat depreciated by too early gathering ;—and 
Old Colmar, very sugary, promising to be delicious, but 
scarcely ripe. Also, from his garden in Portland Place, 
Clapham Road; ground, flat and sheltered; soil, strong 
rich mould, over undrained gravel, the following kinds ;— 
Jean de Witte, from a south-west wall ; large for the 
kind, and in excellent condition, very juicy, melting, 
sweet, and fine-flavoured ;—Beurre d’Aremberg, from 
an espalier ; melting, but small and bitter in flavour; and 
Ne plus Meuris, from espalier. Melting, but only 
moderately juicy, and not high-flavoured. The first 
premium was awarded to this collection. 
Mr. John Cox (gardener to Wm. Wells, Esq.), Redleaf, 
Penshurst, Kent, sent a collection from a garden exposed 
to south-west; climate, damp ; soil twenty inches of rich 
garden mould, over yellow-marly clay containing veins of 
fine ferruginous sand, damp, but drained. The fruit of 
all the kinds were large, healthy, and good in appearance 
and colour; in other respects they were as follows :— 
Winter Nelis, from south wall, juicy, melting, and 
excellent;—EASTERBEURRE,from south wall, half melting, 
but mealy ;—Chaumontel, from west wall, over-ripe 
and bitter.—P asse Colmar, from south wall; juicy, but 
thin and watery in flavour, deficient in sugar ; scarcely 
ripe;—O ld Colmar, from west wall; past appeared to 
have been good and melting, but not juicy ;—Vicar of 
Winkfield under the name of Lion le Clerc, from a 
standard; juicy, but not at all melting, though over-ripe. 
This collection excited the discussion mentioned above. 
Though not fine in quality, they were allowed the benefit 
of the existing regulations, and were awarded the second 
premium. 
Mr. Wighton (gardener to Lord Stafford), Cossey 
Hall, Norfolk, sent a collection containing Knight’s 
Monarch, from wall and espalier, very juicy and rich- 
flavoured, but shrivelled from having been gathered 
prematurely;—W inter Crassane, not juicy;—E aster 
Beurre, large, but flavourless ;—Beurre Rance, unripe, 
but sweet and promising;—S usette de Bavay, half¬ 
melting, but harsh in flavour ;—also, a variety called 
Winter Bergamot, small and juicy, but of no particular 
merit; reported to be common amongst market-gardeners, 
but not recognised by the members present;—and a 
variety without name, which had every appearance of 
being Swans Jigg, although so much out of season. 
Of other Pears sent for examination, the following were 
the most interesting :— 
Beurre Range, by Henry Webb, Esq., Reigate, from 
a standard, on loamy soil, over fullers’ earth. Fruit 
medium-sized for the variety, melting, juicy, very sweet, 
and high-flavoured. 
Easter Beurre, by Mr. John Brown, gardener at 
Bentworth Rectory, Alton, Hants, from a south-east wall ; 
