by the spores into the wheat could be discovered. The inference is, that the fine contents of the spores propagate the fungus; but this is quite opposed to our general idea of the growth of fungals.

VII. I will lastly touch on the facts now established relative to the fungi attacking animal tissues, which are very surprising. Sapy meat has always a fungus something analogous to what is called the yeast fungus. This fungus is a mass of molecules, probably an early state of the same that is called vinegar plant, the last stage of which has been stated to be a penicillium. What are called sclerotia from skleros, hard, appear in animal matter under particular circumstances; but these are only states of other fungi, for even agarics have been known to spring from them. The fungus of the West Indian wasp, of the caterpillar of New Zealand, and the muscardine of the silkworm, are all well-known examples of fungi attacking living animals. The last is easily propagated by inoculating healthy caterpillars, which I mention to show that a fungal disease may be conveyed from one animal to another in a state of health. I believe a more accurate knowledge of such facts will be ultimately of great use in investigating certain diseases prevalent among animals of the farm, and hitherto inexplicable. Sclerotia have been found in bad fractures, but they are not parasites: true parasitic animal fungi grow only on the skin or mucous membranes.

M. Robin published in 1847 a most curious account of the regetable matters growing on living mammalia, which he classes into two divisons-those of the skin, and those of the mucous membranes. The mucous membranes of the digestive canal and of the lungs are subject to their attacks; nor is the stomach free. All herbivorous animals are able to moulds in the digestive canal, very like the yeast fungus, but larger; yet it is confined to them, and never found in carnivora, birds, or reptiles. A penicillium of birds is tolerably well known; and pheasants, fowls, and pigeons are occasionally the prey of a mould as yet imperfectly described. An aspergill is found in eggs; and that found in the air-cells of the lungs of the eider-duck has been often noticed. Parasitic animal fungi yield, it is said, to sulphuric acid; whence a hint may be obtained as to remedy, but I wish to speak with due caution on these novel investigations. Attempts have been made to innoculate dead animals with these fungi; they have entirely failed: the life of the animal is essential to their growth, the conditions of which seem generally to be imperfect states of respiration or nutrition, or irregularity. There seems to be a moment when the powers of assimilation flag, and then the fungi step in, and appropriate the nourishment designed for the system. It may be the same with apparently healthy plants. We may here have the first ward to the key to many a hidden secret as to the ailments of the animals of the British farm.

VIII. I have now completed my humble attempt to give a popu-

lar outline of the chief parasitic fungi of the farms of England, which only require simpler names to be easily understood; and the farmer must learn to distinguish them from the diseases of the superficial tissues. It is a subject well suited to farmers' clubs, where good botanists and microscopists might be induced to attend with their instruments, and give simple explanations. Let it be remembered that simplicity is the handmaid of all useful science, whose truths are only impeded by needless grandiloquence. I can say by experience, that endeavors to propagate it will be found good subordinate auxiliaries to the higher aims of men of my own sacred calling; and while we see that there is not a thing. so small. or so. apparently mean, but that it sparkles with some beam of the skill of its great Maker, I conceive that it befits the office I bear to show that the nobler teaching of Divine Wisdom by things revealed does not tend to deface, but to elevate our conception of God's perfection in things created. This earth was not made to be neglected, nor man to be unobservant; and if these unpretending gleamings I have gathered in my few moments of leisure shall this day have proved in the least degree acceptable to the present audience, or generally of any interest to the British farmer, of the kindness of whose disposition I have had more proofs than I have deserved. I shall rejoice in the honor conferred upon me by being allowed the privilege of addressing you..

ARTICLE III.

MINERAL WEALTH OF MISSOURI:

The primary elements of national wealth seem to have been dealt out to Missouri on a larger scale than to any other political division: of the earth of equal area.

The deposite of cannel coal recently explored in Callaway county, is not less remarkable than the Iron Mountain and Pilot Knob, which have been long regarded as amongst the greatest wonders of the mineral kingdom. Should this coal be found useful as fuel in smelting and manufacturing the iron located in its immediate neighborhood, these two minerals combined will constitute a source of wealth not less important to the State than profitable to the proprietors.

It affords us much gratification to learn that the proprietors are progressing with their improvements with a view to extensive operations. Should they be able to deliver cannel coal at St. Louis at a reasonable price, compared to that of the bituminous coal now in use, it will

doubtless be adopted for family purposes to the exclusion, in a great measure, of all other kinds.

We notice that the enterprise is in the hands of Philadelphians. It is well the people of Pennsylvania understand the value of coal and iron, and we trust that the success of the "Callaway Mining and Manufacturing Company" will induce others of that land of industry and enlightened enterprise, to transfer their operations to our State. The coal, iron, and lead of Missouri may be regarded as inexhaustible; and we are pleased to observe that since the California excitement has subsided, they are beginning to attract more attention than at any previous period. The production of lead in the southeastern part of the State-the old lead district-is believed to be on the increase, while several new mines have lately been opened in the south-west. We recently noticed the arrival of three flat boats in New Orleans freighted with lead from Moseley's mines, in Newton county; and a late number of the Boonville Observer notices the arrival of several tons of lead in that city from a mine recently opened in the same county, by E. H. Hubbard.

Our railroad improvements, as they progress, will doubtless give an impetus to mining which will in due time be followed by Manufactories established for the purpose of working the raw material, and if no important change should take place in the monetary affairs of the country, the industrial pursuits of Missouri will present a new phase within a few years from the present date.

This is the time for those who are looking to mining in Missouri as a pursuit, to secure favorable locations before they get into the hands of speculators, who will neither improve them nor permit others to do so on reasonable terms.

We copy the following description of the coal and iron deposites owned by the Callaway Mining and Manufacturing Company from a late number of the Missouri Telegraph.

THE CALLAWAY MINING AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY.

This company owns about three thousand acres of land, lying from four to five miles from the Missouri river, near Cote Sans Dessein. It was chartered in 1847, and is composed altogether of Philadelphians of capital and means. Since the date of the charter they have been prospecting and shafting to ascertain fully the extent and richness of the mineral resources of the lands now owned by them, and taking the preliminary steps for connecting the mines with the river by railroad, and for building a depot and an agency. Friday and Saturday last, we spent in visiting Cote Sans Dessein and the coal and iron mines of this company-and were exceedingly well pleased. "The Village" is upon ground several feet above

the highest floods of the river-and has an excellent landing. Twenty-two acres have been acquired by and admeasured to the company for the purpose of depot, agency and the like, and embrace a good deal of the Cote Sans Dessein Hill. The track of the railroad has been located and is five miles long, connecting the Mastadon Bank with the river. We rode along the entire track and found the grounds to be well adapted to the purpose and should think that the road could be built at very small costs. what we have never witnessed before in this State, and that is an active and vigorous breaking of turf for a railroad. About two and a half miles of the track has been trimmed and cleared of all trees and brush, and the larger portion of it graded, ready for the rails and their particular foundation. Mr. I. S. Clark, the agent of the company, is forwarding the grade with dispatch; having many Irish and English laborers engaged at the work. He has Baker's circular saw mill about mid-way of the track preparing the necessary lumber for the road. Cannel coal and iron ore are found in the greatest abundance on the lands of the company. The former is in a purer state and in more extensive masses than any where known to the world. The half cannot be told. Go and see, and you'll stand mute with astonishment at the bounteous provision of nature. Geologists, we believe determine the quantity by the dip and the thickness of the veins-as well as the extent of country, the coal seem to occupy from the multiplicity of the croppings out.

If this be a safe rule, we should readily say, that a region of country several miles square, embracing all the lands of this company, must be entirely underlaid with immense fields of the richest cannel coal. We visited the "Mammoth Bank" and found that here the coal crops out in a bluff bank of some two hundred feet in length and at different points of a thickness from three to ten feet. A shaft had been sunk here and the vein found to have a depth of twenty-four and a half feet. A quarter of a mile South East, and three quarters of a mile and a mile and a half west of the "Mammoth Bank," coal crops out and appears in large quantities. These latter we did not see. But three and a half miles west is the "Mastodon Bank" and a great one it is. It has been shafted to the depth of eighty-five feet; 11 by 11; seventy-five and a half of which is the pure cannel coal-a thickness of vein without an equal in the world. Drifts were run thirty-three feet south, eleven feet east, and eleven feet north in order to ascertain the dip and extent of the mines. Near the mouth of the shaft lay some 15,000 bushels of coal--much of it in large blocks. We must confess that whilst looking upon this immense pile of such charming fuel, we became exceedingly covetous. Who would not? This coal crops out at other points we did not visit. moth" and "Mastodon" satisfied us that these coal fields are The "Mamwithout a parallel, and may be mined for ages and not be exhausted. It is of remarkable purity-without any intermixture of lead, zinc

or sulphur. Sulphur, when found, forms the base of the beds of coal, but is not intermixed. From the evidences we saw, we should think, that iron ore in great quantities lies near these cannel coal banks. In a hundred yards of the Mammoth Bank, this ore of a rich quality appears on the surface. At the distance of six hundred yards north east from the Mastodon Bank, this ore appears on the lands of Josias Dixon. No examination has been made of its extent. About one and a half miles west from the Mastodon, on lands of the company, iron is found in immense quantitieslies on the surface in great blocks. This bank has been opened in several places and found to be of great extent and of very rich quality. This vein has been traced a half mile and is over a hundred feet in width on the surface of the ground. Iron ore appears at many other points in the vicinity; which we did not see. There cannot be a doubt but that the iron resources of the company are quite as extensive as the cannel coal. Wood and limestone are in great abundance on the lands of the company. This coal will no doubt supercede all other coals for foundry purposes, raising steam, making gas and for family use.

The object of this company is the mining of coal and the manufacture of iron, and surely they could not desire materials of a richer quality or in greater abundance, or a more flattering prospect of wealth and fortunes as the result of their enterprise. Nature has done her duty-been extravagantly liberal. Energy and industry may do the rest and realize immense riches. These mines are twelve miles from Jefferson city, seventeen from Fulton and one hundred and twenty from St. Louis; and being as it were on the margin of our great river, there are the best facilities for reaching any market whatever. With such materials and facilities, this company would evidently neglect the great advantages they have secured, were they not to urge forward with dispatch this great improvement.

The foregoing account is corroberated by C. H. Harden, who visited the mines in company with the Editor of the Telegraph. Several affidavits and certificats are appended to the account. We give the following extracts, as affording a more particular description of the premises, from the affidavit of Josias Dixon.

"The principal is shaft sunk to the depth of about eighty-eight feet, and in extent North and South I have seen it tested about one hundred feet in the direction I supposed the vein to run and the strata in said shaft to be about 75 feet; I further state that I reside near said Coal Mines and have seen the cropping out of the same pure Cannel Coal Mines which is found in said shaft for several miles in extent around said Mines. I have also seen considerable Iron ore, and know of several different veins of Iron in the vicinity of said Coal Mines, to what thickness or extent said