1857.] The Fungi. 389 



aided by the microscope not only to confirm tlie refutations given to 

 these theories wliich we have named and others that might be named, 

 but to bring to the sunlight of a clear demonstration the true cause 

 of smut — the urcdo-fcetida. It is proved beyond question to be a 

 parasitical fungus whose spores constitute the fine sooty looking foetid 

 substance which we find incased in the receptacle which covers the 

 grain. The sporule of this fungus has been detected in the very 

 earliest states of the flower-bud which, when fully ripe, occupies the 

 whole interior of the grain pellicle. Bulliard describes this fungus 

 as globular, extremely fine and attached to a fine elastic filament or 

 thread. 



Mr. Lathbury examined the dust of this fungus under a powerful 

 magnifyer and found it consisted of numerous minute particles uni- 

 torm in shape and size, much smaller and blacker than those of the 

 pepper brand and less easily separable ; they seemed to be contained 

 in minute irregular cells. 



M. Bauer in his researches says the earliest period at which he 

 discovered the sporule within the cavity of the ovule of a young 

 plant of wheat, was sixteen days before the ear emerged from the 

 hose, and about twenty days before the sound ears, springing from 

 the same root, were in bloom. At that early stage the inner cavity 

 of the ovum is very small and after fecundation is filled with the 

 albumen or farinaceous substance of the seed and already occupied 

 by many young fungi, which from their jelly-like root or spawn 

 adhere to the membrane which lines the cavity and from which they 

 can be easily detached in small flakes, with that spawn. In that 

 state their very small pedicles may be distinctly seen. At first the 

 fungi are of a pure white color and when the ear emerges from its 

 hose the ovum is much enlarged but still retains its original shape, 

 and the fungi rapidly multiplying, many of them have nearly come 

 to maturity, assumed a darker color and having separated from the 

 spawn lie loose on the cavity of the ovum. The infected grains 

 continue growing and the fungi continue to multiply till the sound 

 grains have attained their full size and maturity, when the infected 

 grains are easily distinguished from the sound ones by their being 

 generally larger and of a darker color, and if opened they appear to 

 be filled to excess with these dark colored fungi ! 



But the grains infected with the ured,)-foe.tida very rarely burst 

 and these fungi are seldom found on the outside of the grain ; but 

 if a grain be bruised they readily emit their offensive smell, which 



