50 A HALF-HOUR WITH TIIK 



at figure 100, and the Botrytis which aocompauici 

 the potato disease, figure 101, are other and in- 

 teresting forms of these minute parasites. Thf 

 common pea is subject to a blight which is a<v 

 companied by a peculiar fungus, seen at figure 102a, 

 which, when examined by a low power, presents 9 

 globular mass, surrounded by minute filaments. 

 Under a high power the central ball is resolved 

 into a series of little cases, containing in their 

 interior the minute spores. These are seen at 

 fiofure 1026. Seeds, as well as fruits, are liable to 

 the attacks of fungi during their decay. Figure 103, 

 Plate 4, represents a fungus found in a mould upon 

 a common Spanish nut. This fungus looks like a 

 red powder spread over the surface of the nut. A 

 fungus has been described as attacking the oil- 

 casks in the London docks : its fibres resemble 

 threads of black silk. It is represented at 

 figure 104. The spores are found scattered about 

 the fibres. As we have already seen, fungi are 

 found on the human body, and accompany certain 

 forms of disease of the skin, more especially those 

 of the head. In these cases the fungi insert them- 

 selves into the follicle of the hair, and introduce 

 themselves into its structure, so that it either falls 

 oflf or becomes disorganized. The fungus of ring- 

 worm, called Achorion Schd/iltnii, is given at 

 fig ill e 105. If the seed of wheat is allowed to 

 germinate in a damp place, the little rootlet which 

 it sends down will be found covered over with a 

 minute fungus. A fungus of some interest, on 

 account of its unusual place of growth, may 

 be found, in autumn, attached to the roots of 

 the common duck- weed {Lemna ininor), seen at 

 figure 106 — plate 4. In the same figure, at a, 

 IS represented a fungus of a different kind, it is 

 ^fe/riisitic within the cells, and has a bead-like 



