120 



In: in actual contact with the sound fruit, in order to occasion its 

 contamination, which they must do by penetrating through the cuticle, 

 which thus appears to be an inadequate provision for the protection 

 of fruit from the inroads of these insidious destroyers ; whereas it is 

 not necessary for the sporules to be placed in contact with the fruit, 

 for they can act, in producing decay, at a considerable distance from 

 their source, the atmosphere being the medium of their dissemination. 

 In a practical point of view, it is useful to bear in mind this dis- 

 tinction, for it affords an explanation of the reason why apples, and 

 other fruit, when not allowed to touch each other, become affected 

 with decay, more than when heaped up. Experience has long taught 

 the wisdom of this practice, although but few, if any, could have 

 explained from what cause its beneficial results proceeded. 



In the paper already referred to, it is stated, that it was conceived 

 that the introduction of the Fungi very generally, if not always, took 

 place through the ruptured cuticle. I am now, however, certain, that 

 they find admittance, in many cases, where ho rupture or disorganiza- 

 tion of the skin can be discerned ; but the way in which they do so is 

 not very clear, though probably it is by insinuating themselves between 

 the cells of which the cuticle is composed, or, perhaps, by means of 

 the stomata, where they are present ; but, as far as I can ascertain, 

 these organs are but rarely, if ever, present on the surface of the 

 fruit. If they are ever present, the sporules, without doubt, from their 

 excessive minuteness, could readily obtain admission through these 

 natural apertures. 



I have here an apple, the history of which is peculiar. Some time 

 since a portion of the parenchyma was purposely bruised, without any 

 rupture of the cuticle being permitted, in order to ascertain whether 

 this treatment would give rise to decay. It did not, however ; and 

 many weeks afterwards an opening was made through the skin into 

 the bruised portion of the fruit, and the apple allowed to remain for 

 a few minutes in the neighbourhood of other fruit affected with decay ; 

 it was then placed beneath a small glass jar, under which it remained 

 until disturbed for the purpose of being exhibited to the Society. 

 Its structure is now wholly disorganized, and its surface covered 

 with two species of Fungi, belonging, probably, to different genera ; 

 the one of which has made its way to the interior of the fruit, princi- 

 pally through the opening purposely made ; the other, however, has 

 made many openings for itself. 



I may observe, in conclusion, that the peculiar softening and dis- 

 colouration which it is well known medlars undergo, before they are 



