PEACH CURL.

The peach fungus commenced its ravages in 1863, in central Ohio, in the buds during the warm weather in the month of March. It attacked the flower buds, producing in their centre a dark, dead spot, destroying much of the fruit in its embryonic state; so that usually the trees produced but few flowers. As early as the leaf-buds began to be developed into leaves, the fungus was noticed in them, causing them to curl and blister as they opened. The fungus is more destructive to the fruit and less to the leaves this year than last.

June 3d. The majority of peach trees in central Ohio are suffering more or less from the ravages of the peach fungus. Many of the older trees are losing their leaves, while on others many of the leaves are blistered, curled, overgrown, and twisted, so that they imperfectly perform their normal functions.

June 18th. The peach fungus is beginning to attack the young peach fruit. The leaves are not so universally attacked as they were last year. This is probably owing to the extreme dry weather, on which account the trees have made but little new wood, and the leaves are less tender and succulent than usual. This firmness of the tissues renders the trees less susceptible to invasion, and to the rapid growth and progress of the peach fungus, after it has once gained a foothold.

GLOSSARY.

In writing out careful investigations upon subjects of this kind, it is necessary to use so many terms that are not expected to be generally understood by the mass of readers-to whom the results of such labors are the most valuable-that their usefulness is much limited, unless connected with the descriptions are explanations that render the terms used readily comprehended. The following definitions of the terms employed, we trust, will enable every farmer and fruit grower to peruse these examinations with interest and profit:

Abortive-Unproductive.

Asci-Vessels that contain the reproductive bodies of flowerless plants. These reproductive bodies when produced in asci, are called sporidia, to distinguish them from reproductive bodies not produced in asci, which are called spores.

Astomous-Mouthless, or without openings.

Anastomosing-Uniting or inosculating of vessels.
Antherozoid-Sperm cells of cryptogamic plants.
Ascigerous-Producing asci.

Algology-The science of sea-weeds.

Blight-A vague term, signifying a pestilence among plants, caused by the attack of insects or
of parasitic fungi, or some endemical affection of the atmosphere, not fully understood.
Cambium-The soft matter that is to form the new annual layers of wood and bark.
Carbonized-Burned to a coal, or having the appearance of being charred.

Cellular-Composed of cells.

Cilia-Hairs like those of the eyelashes.

Cortical-Belonging to the bark.

Cryptogams-Flowerless plants.

Deciduous-Falling off.

Dehiscent-Bursting open.

Epidermis-The outside skin of the bark.

Epyphytes or Epiphytal-Plants that grow upon other plants, or upon their leaves.
Evanescent-Quickly vanishing.

Endochrome or Protoplasm-The unimpregnated sporules of a spore cell.

Epispore-The outer membrane of a spore, where the membranes are double.

Excipulum-A perithecium that is never closed.

Fertile Threads-Those that produce fruit.

Fungus-Having the substance of fungi or mushrooms.

Gonidia-Joints.

Hyaline-Pure white, or bright and pure tints.

Hymenium—A layer or mass of cells, from which are developed fertile threads or spores.

Inarticulate-Not jointed.

Matrix-A place where any thing is generated or formed.

Meshes-The openings in any tissue.

Moniliform-Like a necklace or string of beads; that is to say, with alternate swellings and

contractions.

Mycelium-Roots, or their equivalent.

Mycology-The science of moulds.

Mucedinous-Having the appearance of moulds.

Osteolum-Mouth or opening through which the Apothecia in lichens shed their spores.

Ovate-Egg-shaped.

Oval-Having the figure of an ellipse.

Perithecium, Vessel in which stand the Asci, or different kinds of envelopes of the repro

Peridium, and

Prisporium

ductive organs of fungi.

Parasite -A plant growing on other plants.

Protoplasm-The Endochrome, or unimpregnated sporules of a spore cell.

Prophylactics-Preventives.

Pullulation-Budding.

Pycnidia-Enlarged joints in fertile threads, filled with Stylospores.

Pileus-The umbulla, top of agarics or common mushrooms.

Prothallus-A peculiar body produced from some Cryptogams, which is capable of producing spores like those from which the original plant sprung. It is an intermediate body between the plant and the spore.

Pustule-Cavity that contains spores or fruit.

Paraphyses-Threads arising often with asci, leaving spores sometimes on their summit. They are abortive.

Saccate-In the form of a sack.

Spermatagonia-Bodies developed at the joints.

Spermatozoids-The sperm or male cells of cryptogams or flowerless plants.

Sporidia-Spores contained in asci.

Spores-The seed or reproductive bodies of flowerless plants.

Spermatia-Spores of a second order.

Sporopharous-Those fungi which produce naked spores.

Sporangium-Spore cases, or vessels in which spores are produced.

Sporidangia-The minute sporidia in what is called a vesicle. The vesicle takes the place of

an ascus.

Sori-A form in which the spores are arranged.

Sporophore-A large body, or spore that produces spores on its summit.

Spermatia-Sperm cells

Stylosphores-Spores of a second order.

Sterigmata-The threads or peduncles rising from the sporophores, and on the terminus of which are produced spores.

Stroma--A vessel, or capsule, which springs from the mycelium, and contains the asci, utricles or perithecia.

Ste rileesya is-Those threads that do not produce fruit.

Stomates-Little mouths or openings on the under side of leaves.

Thalamium-Hymenium of lichens.

Trichotamous-Branches divided into threes.

Tubular-Like a tube.

Vesicles-Hollow sacks resembling bladders.

Volva--Sheath around the base of the stem, or basidium in "mushrooms."*

Zoospores-Vitalized cells or speres, armed with cilia or fillaments, and having the power of independent motion.

tracted by water is so large that the hay loses one-third of its original value, and probably more, if we consider the fact that after soaking it contains no alkaline salts or phosphates, which act a very important part in assimilation. An animal cannot live on such hay exclusively. It will produce disease and general sickness.

We have also an analysis by Stockhardt, of a hay crop raised near Tharand, in 1854, which was left to lie on the meadow 13 days, in alternately wet and dry weather. Another sample from the same meadow was housed very dry within, three days. The following analyses give a comparison of both:

PERCENTAGE COMPOSITION OF THE SUBSTANCE OF HAY FREE OF WATER.

Ritthausen analyzed a sample of clover hay on which rain had also fallen several times, and which was saved by being dried on clover racks.

Assuming the most favorable estimate, 146 lbs. of the hay on which rain fell, are worth as much as 100 lbs. well cured and housed.

OTHER FORAGE PLANTS.

There are many other forage plants well worthy of our attention. Mention may be made of green rye, vetches, green oats, corn, lupines, kale and cabbage, &c., which are used as substitutes when clover and grass do not suffice, or cannot be had at the right time. Of what are they composed; what is their value as fodder? These natural questions are answered in the following table: