Referee's report by Harold William Taylor Wager, on a paper 'The origin of parasitism in plants' by George Massee Sectional Committee: Botany Recommended for publication in Philosophical Transactions. The paper is an interesting one and contains some new and striking observations which, if confirmed, will mark a distinct addition to their knowledge of the physiology of parasitism among the fungi. At the same time it appears to Wager that a more extensive series of observations is necessary before any very precise or definite conclusions as to the origins of parasitism in fungi can be arrived at. Massee's contribution to the subject is nevertheless a valuable one and some of his experimental observations are very important. [Published in the Philosophical Transactions B, 1905]. Endorsed on verso as received 27 January 1904. 23 January 1904