NOTES ON SOME lUJURIOUS FUNGI. S9' 



know how to grow a tree without once in a while taking off a little- 

 limb. I have neglected trees till it was almost impossible to get them 

 into good shape without pruning to kill. It is very necessary for a man 

 who starts au orchard to know his varieties, when, where and how to- 

 prune. 



:n"otes on some ixjueious fuxgi. 



BY B. T. GALLOWAY, COLUMBIA, MO. 



Doubtless every horticulturist has had some experience with the- 

 minute plants known as fungi, and we dare say few have so fortunate 

 as not to have been troubled, at some period of their existence, with 

 one or more of the many species of rust, or mildew, that cause such a 

 vast amount of damage to cultivated plants. 



We say all cultivated plants, because nearly every species of flow- 

 ering plant is subject to the attacks of one or more of these parasites. 

 Fungi, however, are not dependent solely upon the living plants for 

 their existence, but many species flourish upon dead and decaying veg- 

 etation, and some species attack the members of the animal kingdom, 

 often causing fatal diseases. The plants known as fungi are destitute 

 of chlorophyl, or green coloring-matter, consequently they are unable 

 to elaborate food from the soil and air. 



As stated above, some species obtain nourishment from dead and 

 decaying vegetaiion ; these are known as saprophytes. A good example 

 of the above group is the mould that occurs upon bread. 



Those that obtain their nourishment from living organisims are 

 called parasites. The rusts, mildews,-etc., belong to this group. We 

 have, then, the [)lants known as fungi divided into two groups, namely: 

 First, saprophytes; and, second, parasites. As the members of the lat- 

 ter group are the most interesting to you as horticulturists, our remarks 

 will be confined principally to them. The vegetative portion (the body 

 of the fungus) of the plants usually consist of long, slender threads. 



