MOULDS. 



163 



The fearful rapidity with which this method enables 

 them to multiply themselves may account for their 

 widely spreading and devastating power. No other 

 genus of fungi can parallel this in the number of 

 species injurious to the field or the garden, or 

 in which the injuries inflicted are so great and 

 irremediable. 



N.B. — Since the foregoing chapter was in type, 

 the Rev. M. J. Berkeley informs us that both Mr. 

 Broome and himself have examined the mould on 

 dock-leaves, to which we have given the name of 

 Pcronospora obliqua, and have come to the conclu- 

 sion that it is truly a member of that genus, and 

 not hitherto described ; but they are also of opinion 

 that it is the same mould as one described by Dr. 

 Montagne as Ascomyces Rvmicis. We concur with 

 them in thinking it deficient in the important 

 characteristics of Ascomyces, and therefore retain 

 its proposed name of P. obliqua, although it is still 

 matter of some doubt whether it should be retained 

 in the genus l'eronusjjora. 



M 2 



