THE VIOLENT PROJECTION OF SPORES 147 



centrated my attention upon a ripe basidium which projected 

 horizontally from the hymenium in one of the tubes at a very short 

 distance above the glass slide (Fig. 53). So near was the basidium 

 to the slide that I was able to have both spores and glass surface 

 within the range of focus at the same time. After I had watched for 

 a long time, one of the spores suddenly left the basidium and became 

 deposited on the glass slide some six times its length from the 

 basidium. t It had therefore been shot along just above the glass 

 surface for a distance of 6 x 13 fi or 0*078 mm. The observation just 

 recorded, although the only one of its kind that I have been able to 

 make, seems to give another convincing proof of the fact of violent 

 spore-projection. The actual movement of the spore from the 

 basidium to its place of rest on the glass slide was not seen, although 

 I was watching with concentrated attention for the express purpose 

 of observing it. However, certain mathematical considerations soon 

 to be treated of, indicate that it is highly improbable, if not im- 

 possible, that one should perceive the horizontal motion, however 

 carefully one might make one's observations. 



