which are Parafitics of the Wheat. — 121 
fied with obferving that every particle of Brand was a globular feed ; 
not the leaít.variation in fhape or magnitude was vifible amongft — 
them. -I afterwards put a drop of water upon them, and let them 
remain in this fituation for fome time; but it produced no altera- 
tion whatfoever in their appearance. I afterwards examined in the 
fame way the duft of one of the ftellated Lycoperdons which I hap- 
pened to have by. me; but the particies of this were much fmallet 
than thofe of the’ Brand, and not of a form fo vifibly determinate. 
: Mr. Lathbury alfo tried a variety of experiments with the fame 
view; and in every one “the duft when diluted with water in- 
ftantly feparated, and prefented to the eye invariably a number < 
globules, touching each other, alike in form and fize.” ^ 
It now rémains for confideration, how thefe feeds! vegetate ‘and 
— from the feed With the growing plant till. they reach the 
heart of the graih.-- Thisi is an inquiry that may be extended to a 
great number of the Fungi, which without impropriety may be 
denominated /ubcutaneous: vegetables; for: inftance, the feveral fpe- 
cies of Zcidium (for they are numerous), Uredo (r), and not a few - 
Spbarie, except that thefe latter grow upon: decayin ng fubflances: 
but thefe I fhall let alone, and only offer a- ‘conjecture, for it is 
merely fuch; with refpe& to the Brand. Perhaps then the uncom- 
monly minute feeds of :this Fungus may attach themifelves either to 
the plumula, and fo país through the air veffels into the plant; or 
elfe to the rofel/um, which to me feems moft probable; and in that- 
cafe they ima be propelled through the fap veffels with the fap, till 
| . they arrive at their final feat, the heart of the germen. 
Whether this fpecies belong to the genus Reticularia or not, I- mut ` 
leave to be determined by thofe. gentlemen who are more deeply 
filled ; in ** cryptogamic . lore” than I am. 
(r) Are AEcidium and Uredo fufficiently p j 
Vor. V. , TA 3 The 
