AND CONTENTS OF THE MOUTH. 433 



IV. — Agamous Fructification. — Referring to the general laws 

 of multiplication of the phanerogams by means of bulbs, tubers, 

 shoots, or buds, and of their genuine reproduction by means of 

 seeds, it should be borne in mind that with transplantation are 

 transmitted the accidental modifications brought about by domes- 

 tication, grafting, etc., which, in the long run, may end in the 

 degeneration of the plant ; whilst with seeds, on the contrary, the 

 species reverts to the natural vigour of the wild state. 



Now, we incline to believe that something similar may happen 

 even with cryptogams. Probably in those which have, besides a 

 fissiparous multiplication, a true reproduction through spores, the 

 sporulation will mean that the species resumes its native vigour, in 

 spite of the attacking or enfeebling causes which, as in our para- 

 site, may impair its vigour. 



The seminule or spore may germinate without previous ferti- 

 lisation, and (as we have already said) we believe this may happen 

 more frequently in our parasite. In the species studied by Billet, 

 this external sporification or fructification was wanting, and it is 

 remarkable that the cocci, which are found abundantly in the 

 buccal contents, were likewise wanting. It remains to be seen 

 whether this want of fructification is really the rule, or simply a 

 consequence of the nature of its pabulum and the material upon 

 which Billet based his researches. Under other conditions, upon 

 media not only stable, but favourable to the production of a myce- 

 lium-like growth, a true and proper fructification might, even in 

 the above-named species, take place. 



In our parasite, the conditions indispensable for the fructifica- 

 tion are : — «, The solidity and nature of the soil; ^, the protection 

 against attrition ; and ^, moisture of the saliva. 



V. — Organs and Fertilising Eleme7its. — By the side of the 

 agamous sporulation we have, in many cryptogams, that of conju- 

 gation. This admits of male organs and fertilising elements or 

 spermatic threads, of which we have already spoken. In our 

 parasite, likewise, we have male organs and fertilising elements. 

 The male organs would first show themselves in the state of young 

 spermogones or antheridia (or of spermogones or aborted anther- 

 idia, not developed or reverted to the neuter state), and afterwards 

 in the state of tufts of ripe pseudo-inflorescences, proceeding from 



