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THE MICROSCOPE AS APPLIED TO FUNGOLOGY. 



By the Rev. J. E. Vize, of Forden Vicarage, Welshpool. 



The students of fungi may natm-ally be divided into certain groups — those who 

 study the larger kinds only, and those who study the microscopical forms, with or 

 without the larger kinds too. As to the first of these, there is not the need of so 

 thorough an examination of plants all the year through, as most of the larger 

 kinds have no solid flesh capable of enduring severe frosts. The autumnal part 

 of the year is the most favourable for them. Again, a microscope is by no means 

 an indispensable part of the work ; therefore the manipulation of the instrument, 

 which, like everything else, cannot be gained by magic, is not necessarily a part 

 of the education. As to the second group, the very fact of the use of the micro- 

 scope gives extra relish for investigating the small forms of vegetable life. 

 Moreover, the small forms may be examined all the year round — each separate 

 month may give diflferent developments of one and the same fungus. By this 

 means the life history may be watched and studied, and become very absorbing as 

 well as very instructive. The task may be difficult, but, when completed, the 

 reward for the toil and labour bestowed is well repaid. Besides, the field of 

 investigation for the microscopical student is very much more extensive as to the 

 numbers of the plants, than for those who only take the large forms. The 

 increase of new microscopical fungi is immensely greater than for the other 

 kinds, hence new species may be found more frequently. Then, again, as to 

 preservation of species for reference, the small forms are more easily preserved 

 for future reference than the others, whether in the herbarium or as slides, not- 

 withstanding the fact that there are difficulties in both. The herbarium in a 

 place liable to atmospheric changes is sure sooner or later to be attacked with 

 some vegetable growth to damage the specimens — a source of special annoyance 

 with unique plants — or the ravages of insects may reduce your specimens to a 

 powdery dust, and render what was formerly prized, equal in value to nothing. 

 Then as to the microscopical slides, there really is a great deal of trouble with 

 them. Their numbers accumulate. This is to be met by carefully arranging 

 them, so that when you want a specimen out of your cabinet of one hundred, or 

 some tens of thousands, you may at once be able to put your hand upon the exact 

 specimen you want. I have given up every plan for the following, which is to 

 have trays of uniform size containing room for 3G slides each, and to have always 

 on hand a stock of empty trays to insert here and there, as necessary, just as you 

 would put books on your library shelves. By keeping to families, genera, and a 

 few details, such as not overcrowding, the difficulty of arrangement becomes easy. 

 Now, as to the medium in which these microscopical slides are to be 

 mounted. Who knows which is the best out of the numbers there are? I have 

 worked at the microsco)De for 35 years, and cannot tell yet, nor do I think the 

 man is bom who can tell. What suits one fungus does not necessarily suit 



