98 THE MICROSCOPE 



Star-spotted fungus {Asterosporiiun Hofimanni). — The beautiful 

 stellate spores of this fungus ooze out in a black mass from orifices 

 in the bark of the beech, forming sooty patches. They have three 

 or four separate rays, and may be mounted in Glycerine, or Canada 

 Balsam and Benzole. Grape-fungus, found in damp weather 

 oozing from bark of the beech in a black gelatinous mass, some- 

 thing Hke printer's ink. Cabbage Mould {Macrosporiuni chei- 

 ranthi)^ on decaying leaves of field beet, and those of some other 

 plants. Common Plant-Mould, found on almost all damp, decay- 

 ing vegetable matter. Potato-Mould appears on the stems and 

 leaves of the potato in the form of delicate branched threads. 



The mycologist is advised to make drawings of all fungi, or at 

 least of the principal forms which come under his notice. Those 

 species of fungi which are parasitic on the leaves of phanerogam- 

 ous plants must be treated in a different way. The leaf itself, not 

 giving sufficient support to the cutting instrument, must be laid 

 between two pieces of cork — a common wine-cork, divided longi- 

 tudinally, answers perfectly well. Then, by cutting clean through 

 the cork and leaf, sections of the required thinness may be obtained 

 without difficulty. To keep the two pieces of cork from shifting 

 during the operation, they may be thrust through a metal ring of 

 suitable size, or a piece of gummed paper may be affixed round 

 them ; a still simpler plan is to tie them together with strong 

 thread or thin string. The section can be placed at once on a 

 slide with a fine-hair pencil. The following re-agents may be used 

 with advantage in the examination of the spores : sugar, sulphuric 

 acid (H2 SO4), iodine, and caustic potash in solution (see Dr. 

 Beale, "How to Work with the Microscope").* 



Examination and Preservation of Fungi. — The examination 

 of Fungi scarcely requires any special remarks. They should be 

 viewed, first, as opaque objects under a low power, and then 

 sections should be made, or the textures separated with mounted 

 needles. There is some difficulty in moistening the filamentous 



* Always apply water by capillary attraction when examining Fungi, as, 

 from some unknown cause, the "pedicels" no sooner come in contact with 

 water than they "lose their heads." The fruit drops oft", and the observer 

 misses the chance of ascertaining the way in which the pedicel and acrospore 

 were united. 



