614 Transactions of the Society. 



seeds are germinated are thoroughly cleansed by immersion in strong 

 acid solution, and by subsequent washing and scrubbing. It is im- 

 possible in such work absolutely to preclude fungoid infection from 

 the surrounding atmosphere during the progress of germination ; but 

 all ordinary means are employed to secure cleanliness and speedy 

 growth of the seeds ; and the evident conclusion is that the spores of 

 most of the fungi that develop in the germination case have been 

 brought into the laboratory with the samples. The rough pods of 

 sainfoin carry most spores, and become very quickly covered with a 

 rich mycelial growth. Smooth seeds, such as rye-grass and meadow 

 fescue, germinate, as a rule, without showing any mould. It is, how- 

 ever, the quality of the seed that is the influencing factor. Fresh 

 healthy well-filled samples germinate without any trace of fungi 

 appearing ; others, of the same kind but from a different sample, 

 become mouldy in a few days. Unless the seeds have quite lost their 

 vitality, the fungi do not really injure them or prevent the embryo 

 sending out its rootlets, and clovers can grow when the outer coat is 

 invisible owing to a thick crop of Chsetomium. 



My list of fungi is not exhaustive, as some forms, no doubt, have 

 escaped observation ; but a varied and interesting collection has already 

 been made. 



The higher fungi are not largely represented ; there are no 

 Basidiomycetes ; and, as yet, only three Ascomycetes have been noted. 

 Two of these belong to Chsetomium, a genus of Pyrenomycetes. 

 They are saprophytic and superficial on whatever substance they 

 grow. Chsetomium Kunzeanum Zopf, which is perhaps the most 

 frequently met with, has a small elliptical fruit crowned at the sum- 

 mit by a bristly head of olive-brown hairs, which are unbranched, wavy, 

 and somewhat rough when mature. C. elatum Kunze, which occurs 

 also very frequently on the same kinds of seeds, is darker in colour, 

 and the hairs of the crown are branched and very rough from the 

 beginning. The ascospores of both species are a dull olive-brown. 

 They grow on decaying vegetation, C. elatum more especially on 

 grass. In the germination case they grow on grasses and clovers, 

 and occasionally on turnip seeds. There is no doubt that towards 

 the end of each seed season, the laboratory must be well furnished 

 with Chsetomium spores, and that may doubtless account for some of 

 the infection. I have germinated some of the ascospores on a gelatin 

 plate, and have obtained a beautiful growth of the Oidium-Kke 

 conidial form, a creeping mycelium with upright conidiophores 

 bearing a terminal chain of conidia, but I have never detected any 

 conidial growth on the seeds. 



The remaining Ascomycete, Gymnoascus Reesii Baran., I found 

 on carrot and on turnip seed. It usually grows on decaying organic 

 substances such as dung, and it is easy to understand how the spores 

 might be blown b} r the wind on to the ripening seeds. Gymnoascus 

 is one of the less highly organised Ascomycetes, the peridium is 



