SUGGESTIONS. 



187 



Thus do we arrive at the close of the task which 

 we had set ourselves to perform. This fragment 

 of a history of microscopic fungi goes forth to 

 plead for students, and prepare the path for 

 somewhat more complete. Is it not a shame that 

 more than two thousand species of plants (never 

 mind how minute, how insignificant) should be 

 known to exist, and constitute a flora, in a nation 

 amongst the foremost in civilization, and yet be 

 without a complete record ? It is nevertheless true 

 that hundreds of minute organisms, exquisite in 

 form, marvellous in structure, mysterious in 

 development, injurious to some, linked with 

 the existence of all, are known to flourish in 

 Britain without a history or description, in the 

 language of, or produced in, the country they 

 inhabit. It is also true that the descriptions, by 

 which they should be known, of hundreds of the 

 rest lie buried in a floating literature whence the 

 youthful and ardent student needs, not only youth 

 and ardour, but leisure and perseverance unlimited 

 to unearth them. This, however, by the way; we 

 may be too great dotards on our native land, and 

 foolish in our desire to see her in advance, and not 

 in the rear in scientific attainments, pursuits, and 

 productions of other and, perhaps, less favoured 

 nations. 



Already we fear that some of our readers will 

 have thought our story of rust, brand, and mildew 

 interminable, and looked anxiously for the close. 



