196 ORIGIN OF MOULD. Ve. 
but with refpect to them there is a remark necef- 
fary. Without-the microfcope, we fhould fuppofe- 
them perfectly fpherical, and-even with it they ap- 
pear fo.if viewed from above ; but when examined 
elow, that is where the ftalk is inferted into the 
head, we obferve that all, or the greater number, 
are fhaped like mufhrooms, or, to fpeak more 
philofophically, they are real mufhrooms. Two 
filaments, with globules, are reprefented, fig. 7. 
and highly magnified, fig. 8. A kind of mould 
fometimes grows on pears, which is actually a 
fhrub in miniature, univerfally adorned with: 
fpherical heads and mufhrooms, fig. 6.. 
Ramous mould is often attached to. vegetable 
fubftances without the aid. of roots ; but mould 
wanting branches almoft always has roots origi- 
nating from.a round corpufcle, from which the 
filaments or ftalks of mould arife. It is fingular, 
that in proportion ‘as every root gives origin to a 
greater number of ftalks, fo are the filaments it 
fends forth below more numerous in proportion. 
‘A degree of refiftance is felt on tearing- mould 
from the fubftance where it fprings, which 
js the confequence of the roots: being well 
fixed. When torn up, they appear very crook+ 
ed, while the ftalks, that have not fuffered 
from the impreflions of the air, are perfe@ly 
ftraight. Many of thefe are of an equal thick- 
nefs throughout, and become a little {maller ,to- 
, wards 
