COWSIUNICATIONS. 289 



^'T'egetable Kingdom," Dr. Lindley tells us that a talkative per- 

 son, under its influence, cannot keep silence or secrets ; one fond 

 of music is constantly singing, while he who wishes to step over 

 a straw takes a stride sufficient to clear the trunk of a tree. 



With us the Phallus impudicus is the most disagreeable species, 

 and commonly bears the not over-classic name of Stinkhorn, It 

 has a slalk five to eight inches in length, bearing at the top a small 

 cap, which, when young, is covered with a green slirae. This 

 soon liquefies, and dropping off, covers the ground with an oden- 

 sivemass, to be eagerly sought for and devoured by carrion insects. 

 The top, when thus relieved of its green outer covering, exhibits 

 a honey-combed surface, and exhales the most disgusting of odors. 

 Many stories are told of the encounters botanists and others have 

 had with this peculiar plant. A case is related of an enthusiastic 

 botanist, who, while on a tour, found some of these plants of un- 

 usual size, and wishing to preserve them, placed them in his box; 

 returning home by rail they caused such discomfort to the inmates 

 of the car that every occupant left it with amazement and disgust 

 as soon as possible. 



Let us now turn our attention to some of those smaller members 

 of this fissemblage of plants, which more truly deserve the name 

 of Destructive Funrjiy and therefore fall more particularly within 

 the province of this lecture. 



The bread, cheese, and cake moulds, though belonging more 

 strictly to household economy, are not without their influence 

 upon the fruits of the horticulturist, and for this reason warrant a 

 passing mention here. They only grow upon organic matter after 

 life has become extinct, but in their growth they rapidly hasten 

 decay, and in this way often do serious damage to fruits and veg- 

 etables. An explanation of the cake mould, Eurotium Aspergillus 

 glaucus, will answer for them all, though among these little plants 

 great differences are to be observed. The general appearance of 

 this little blue intruder is so familiar to you that a description of 

 it as seen by the naked eye is unnecessary. Under the microscope, 

 the little specks resolve themselves into small heads of radiating 

 cells. These cells are formed one upon another from the fila- 

 ments, and are spores, but of that kind known as couidial or 



19 — HORT. 



