114 BULLETIN OF THE BUSSEY INSTITUTION. 
The onion smut, which has done much harm in some portions of 
Massachusetts and Connecticut, was examined at the botanical labora- 
tory of the Bussey Institution. The result of the examination was pub- 
lished in the Annual Report of the State Board of Agriculture, and 
was illustrated by a plate furnished by the Society for the Promotion of 
Agriculture. At the time of the publication of the paper referred to, 
we were of the opinion that the fungus described as Urocystis Cepule, 
Frost, was peculiar to the United States. On further examination, we 
find that a fungus, described by Passerini as Urocystis magica occurs 
at Parma, Italy, on Allium magicum. A comparison of U. Cepule 
and U. magica shows that the two species are the same, and, although 
resembling U. Colchict, differ from that species in the size and disposi- 
tion of the accessory spores. In UW. Colchici they are broad and 
rather flat, fitting closely against one another, so that, when seen with 
the microscope, the spores proper seem to be completely surrounded 
by a covering of smooth accessory spores. In U. magica, the acces- 
sory spores are more conical and not often in close contact with one 
another, so that the spores when seen with the microscope have a 
tuberculated appearance, and the spores proper are in some places 
quite uncovered by the accessory spores. A careful examination of 
the wild species of onion growing in our country should be made by 
fungologists, for it seems highly probable that the fungus which does 
so much injury to cultivated onions will also be found on the wild 
species. 
DESCRIPTION OF PLATE. 
UNCINULA SPIRALIS, B. & C. 
Fig. 1. Perithecium, with appendages, from upper surface of leaf of Vitis 
cordifolia, magnified 550 diameters. 
Fig. 2. Conidia and mycelium, magnified 600 diameters. 
Fig. 3. Asci and spores, magnified 600 diameters. 
