88 MICROSCOPIC FUNGI. 



disease, to ascertain, if possible, the mode by wliich 

 the minute spores of fungi inoculate growing 

 plants ; and although at that time only a bare 

 suspicion of the nature of the bodies resulting from 

 the germination of " bunt ^' spores was enter- 

 tained, succeeding examinations in the same direc- 

 tion have brought to light extraordinary facts, and 

 manifested the progress of the successive develop- 

 ments of four generations. The spores of "hunf are 

 larger than those of the different species of '^ smut,^' 

 and reticulated on the surface (plate Y. fig. 86). 

 When these are made to germinate a kind of stem 

 is protruded (fig. 87), upon which small clusters of 

 elongated thread-like spores of the second gene- 

 ration, or sporidia, aye produced (fig. 88). After 

 a time these spores conjugate, or become united 

 by short transverse processes in the same manner 

 as has been observed in some _ of the lower forms 

 of Algas (fig. 89). The conjugated spores in the 

 next stage germinate and produce a third kind of 

 fruit, diSerent from either of the preceding, and 

 constituting a third generation (fig. 90). These 

 in turn germinate and produce a fourth order of 

 reproductive organs (fig. 91), so that in the process 

 of growth the " bunt '* spores evidently pass 

 through four generations. Hence, as one result, 

 the number of germinating bodies is greatly in- 

 creased, as well as their power of inflicting injury 

 in a corresponding diminution in size. There are 

 still many points in the history of the growth and 



