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of the same species. And this rule is applicable to the fungi. Now 

 it is found that fungi are produced in almost all vegetable substancea 

 when submitted to favourable conditions of heat and moisture. 

 Bread, for instance, if left for a considerable time in a stagnant 

 atmosphere, is covered with mould. This mould, on examination, is 

 found to be a growth of one of the Mucoriuse, Ascophora mucedx> 

 This plant grows on various substances, but bread will, I believe, 

 always produce it. Whence then is it derived ? It must arise from 

 one of two sources. The reproductive particles must either exist in 

 the bread itself, or be conveyed through the atmosphere. If we take 

 the latter supposition, it is tantamount to regarding the atmosphere as 

 charged with the reproductive particles of AscopJwra mucedo. If the 

 latter alternative be adopted we must regard all the bread that is made 

 as similarly affected. But the Ascophora is only one of many parasitic 

 fungi which seem always to be developed, under circumstances favour- 

 able to their germination, on all sorts of common substances, — straw, 

 paper, matting, ropes, cheese, gum, living flies, fruit of all kinds, ink, 

 leather, all have their parasites of this class ; and whether the germs 

 reside in the substances themselves or are brought by the atmosphere, 

 we are compelled to admit a most extraordinary prevalence of fungoid 

 particles, not one in many milUons of which is ever developed into a 

 perfect plant. It is not, however, improbable that these minnte par- 

 ticles have a very powerful influence upon the health and condition of 

 mankind ; an influence which might be more or less under our control, 

 if the facts were thoroughly investigated, but which at present is almost 

 altogether um-ecognised or unexplored. 



It is not easy to over-estimate the importance of observing the 

 unfailing regularity of nature in eveiy process of that vast change which 

 goes on unceasingly, but ever according to fixed laws governing all her 

 operations, from the upheaving of a continent to the germination of a 

 spore. A fii-m persuasion of this regulaiity in nature may exercise no 

 unimportant influence upon our estimation of the value of a miracle ; 

 and when we find that once, in attestation of a message of mercy and 

 goodwill to mankind, the chain of natural cause and efi"ect was broken, 

 it may happen that oui inclination to trust in a message so attested, may 

 increase with our appreciation of the strength of continuity in that 

 chain ; and if the strength of the whole be only that of the weakest 

 portion, it may be well for us to have traced how firm and unyielding 

 is eveiy Unk, as we descend towai-ds the obscure and lowest limit of 

 things which may be seen. Such is the position of some of the fungi. 

 Amongst them, if anywhere, we might expect to meet with anomalies. 

 I may not venture to say that botanical science has proved there are 



