KINDS OF FUNGI 93 



give us an excellent account of its place in the economy 

 of nature, but it is baffled by the inscrutable forces that 

 are at the back of all phenomena. 



The Fungi include Rusts, Smuts, Mildews, Moulds, 

 and Yeasts ; but, naturally, the attention of the ordinary 

 observer is caught principally by the Mushroom-like 

 forms, and such conspicuous objects as the Puffballs 

 and Earth-Stars. We shall see later that a Mushroom, 

 a Toadstool, or a Puffball is the fructification of a hidden 

 plant. Many of the smaller Fungi are pests: they are 

 the occasion of diseases in plants and animals, and inflict 

 serious losses upon the agriculturalist. Timber is subject 

 to the ravages of certain kinds. The reader will cer- 

 tainly be familiar with the " dry-rot " Fungus {Merulius 

 lachrymans), which destroys the timbers of Tiouses, and 

 can hardly be exterminated once it has got established. 

 The historic potato famines in Ireland were due to the 

 destructive activity of a microscopic Fungus, Phyto- 

 fhthora infestans, the Potato-disease, and it may be 

 claimed that this pest played an important part in the 

 Repeal of the Corn Laws. A Fungus causes the Salmon 

 disease ; and it is said that the Black Death which devas- 

 tated England in the reign of Edward III. was due to a 

 Fungus. But while so many Fungi are destructive, 

 we must not conclude that all are baneful. Generally 

 speaking, they perform exceedingly important uses. 



Before going into some details of structure and de- 

 velopment in the Fungi, it may be well to take note of 

 some easily observed features. First, there is the great 

 range of coloration. This is very evident among the 

 so-called Toad- or Paddock-stools. Green is a rare 

 colour, but it occurs in a few instances. Various shades 



