FUNGI. 251 



of seedlings in the spring by means of the pro- 

 mycelial spores, which by reason of their mode of 

 development may be three times as numerous as the 

 original teleutospores. And yet account must be 

 taken of the latent mycelium which may possibly 

 remain quiescent through the winter, and resume 

 activity in the spring, independently of all the other 

 facilities for the continuance of the species. Surely 

 in the "struggle for existence" this humble parasite 

 upon the leaves of an annual herbaceous plant is 

 amply provided with the means of self-preservation. 

 We cannot omit to allude to a circumstance narrated 

 elsewhere,^ in which it was evident that the seeds 

 of annuals infected with Piiccinia could produce 

 seedlings, all of which were infected by the disease, 

 without the intervention of promycelial spores, or 

 any of the direct and ordinary means of infection. 



It may be mentioned here, incidentally, that Dr. 

 Salisbury at one time attributed the disease called 

 "camp measles" to the corn-mildew {Puccinia gra- 

 minis), and contended that the teleutospores, which 

 germinated in the damp straw, produced and dis- 

 seminated the secondary spores in the air, and thus 

 caused the disease. This is one of the pretty little 

 speculative romances of the past.^ 



Hetercecism. 



In order to comprehend the theory of Hetercecism, 

 it is necessary to bear in mind the basis of fact 



> W. G. Smith, "Diseases of Field and Garden Crops," p. 1S2. 

 (1884.) 

 * M. C. Cooke, "Fungi, their Nature, etc.," p. 213. 



