366 ON THE STUDY OF MICRO-FUNGI. 



develop upon, say, the Dandelion nor on any other of the many 

 plants which may be flourishing around, will probably become 

 clearer when we consider their life-history. 



In commencing to make a collection of these minute forms, it 

 would undoubtedly be a great advantage to have the advice of 

 someone already acquainted with the locality, who could point out 

 where particular specimens might be looked for, and which were 

 the most prolific places in the district ; but, though sueh assistance 

 might often save a good deal of needless searching, it might, on 

 the other hand, not be very conducive to the acquirement of much 

 fresh information as to their habitats, nor leave very much scope 

 for the discovery of new specimens. Neither does it seem an 

 altogether satisfactory plan for the collector to make out a list of 

 host plants from a book, and then, searching out these plants, to 

 examine them for the parasite which has already been recorded as 

 occurring upon them. This method would no doubt expedite the 

 making of a collection, but it is manifest that it would curtail the 

 chances of adding to the number of host plants. It appears to 

 me that the best plan is to go forth unbiassed towards any partic- 

 ular plants or district, and to search first one plant and then 

 another, totally regardless as to whether a fungus has ever been 

 found upon them or not. By so doing we should, at any rate, put 

 ourselves into the path of original observations, and have an oppor- 

 tunity of being successful. 



The specimens when collected should be pressed, and then 

 either affixed to paper or preserved in an envelope, care of course 

 being taken to keep a record of the place where obtained, and of 

 the date of finding. When the name of the host plant has been 

 noted, and the spores of the fungus examined with the microscope, 

 we shall very probably be able to make out the species without 

 much trouble, but when this is done we should not let our interest 

 in it cease, for each fungus has a life history of its own, and it 

 ought to be our duty to learn something regarding it. There is 

 certainly considerable pleasure to be derived from collecting the 

 specimens and ascertaining the species ; but if we content our- 

 selves merely with gathering together a collection, we do not differ 

 very much from the man who stocks his library shelves with books 

 and chooses to remain in ignorance as to what is written within 



