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147 
ECCENTRICITIES IN THE OCCURRENCE OF FUNGI 
[Read by the Rev. J. E. Vize.] 
The study of any special subject brings out astonishing, and, at the same 
time, very interesting facts. The a priori argument a beginner of Mycology 
would entertain with regard to the re-occurrence of fungi, might be that because a 
certain thing was found there it would happen there again; and that if he dis- 
covered it there by visiting the same spot, say one, two, three, four, five years 
afterwards, he would be tolerably sure to see it in the glory he first. saw it.. But 
experience teaches that an argument for the future, not based upon the past, is 
very apt to be erroneous in many very essential points. A very few years’ work, 
possibly twelve months only, would damp the zeal and enthusiasm of him that 
has made certain that hereafter he shall have plenty of specimens wherewith to 
supply his friends, and have ample for himself. He will have discovered, to his 
cost, that although he has remembered the exact locality with the greatest nicety, 
and even if—as would be the case with fungi—he has found the “ nourishing 
plant ” in its correct place, yet the parasite is not there, and hence he is very 
possibly considerably disappointed. Probably every one of us has found this to be 
so. The case may readily be illustrated. Podisoma junipert for three years has 
been in splendid condition in my churchyard upon two trees separated many yards 
from each other, but this ycar, although the substratum, in“the’shape of swellings 
and distortions, are manifest, not a single Podisoma has appeared, although I 
have been several times in the really favourable time to find it, namely, directly 
after a good deal of rain. The Puccinia on the Sweet William could not be found 
this year by Mr. Griffiths Morris in his locality, where it previously existed for 
several seasons, thus presenting a similar instance to the Podisoma just named. 
It was only last Saturday that I went to find the same plant growing on the 
Meehringra. The time corresponded with that of last year, when it was abun- 
dant; this year there was not a vestige of the fungus to be found. Wecidium 
Calthe was discovered last year, after the lapse of many years, by the Rev. J. 
Fergusson, in Scotland, who, at my request, searched vigorously for it. The Gc. 
Statices was never recorded until 1871 as British, with one exception, although 
known on the Continent. It was discovered in that year in several places, viz., 
Walney Island, Basingstoke, Hythe, &c. But its occurrence in 1871 was its best. 
In 1872 it had sadly degenerated, at all events at Walney Island, and this year it 
is scarce and inferior. What made it burst out so extensively and widely in 1871? 
It was eccentric to do so, and itis not likely to have been in England before, or 
some of our botanical friends would have seen it before. Then, look at Puc, 
Malvacearum, Mont. how fearfully it injured the Hollyhocks at Maidenhead and 
elsewhere in the summer of 1873. No previous notice was given of its arrival, 
No one expected it, and yet it became a scourge all at once, and sorely puzzled the 
brains of gardeners to know how to check its ravages. Cholera in the year 1831 was 
not more unexpected than Puc. Malvacearum in 1873, and yetmany places were free 
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