1859.] CHAPTERS ON FUNGI. 227 



abound in our woods and fields ; they are found in our gardens 

 and liothouses, and even in our dwelling-bouses. Some species 

 grow on tbe dead or dying stems or brandies of trees and shrubs, 

 others on the ground ; some are parasitic on dead or decaying 

 substances of various kinds, and Occasionally on other Fungi in 

 those states ; and others are found on living substances, gene- 

 rally the leaves of herbaceous plants. 



Most Fungi are very uncertain and capricious in making their 

 appearance, which seems to depend on certain atmospheric con- 

 ditions. In some years a particular species will abound, and in 

 others not a single plant of it will appear. And this is the 

 case even with the commoner kinds. Fungi seem to thrive best 

 in a moist climate, with a moderate degree of heat, and thus 

 the temperate zone is more productive of these plants than other 

 regions of the earth. Of all the countries of Europe, Sweden, 

 which contains large forests of various kinds of trees, is said to 

 be the most productive ; though in other countries, as Germany, 

 Russia, etc., large numbers of Fungi are produced. Our own 

 country, for its size, exhibits a long list of Fungi, as upwards 

 of 2,000 species have been found in it, and in all probability it 

 contains many more which have not yet been discovered. A 

 very wet season is said to be inimical to Fungi, but without a 

 considerable supply of moisture most species soon dry up and 

 wither away. Some, however, like the Mosses, revive, after 

 shrivelling, on the application of moisture. 



Fungi are often very destructive both to natural productions 

 and to the works of man. They sometimes prove great ene- 

 mies to the gardener, attacking his fruit-trees and flowers, and 

 causing disease and decay. A species of Mould [Oidium] is fre- 

 quently very hurtful to Vines ; and another Mould {Botrytis) 

 has lately almost deprived us of that valuable esculent the po- 

 tato. To the farmer also several species of Fungi are very in- 

 jurious, in the shape of Smut, Mildew, Rust, etc., which attack 

 various corn-crops and often do serious damage to them. Our 

 woodyards and the woodwork of our houses are often infested 

 by Fungi in the form of Dry-rot, etc. ; and the bread, preserves, 

 etc., of the housewife also suffer from their attacks. 



The great office of the Fungi, in fact, appears to be that of 

 hastening the decomposition and decay of dead or dying bodies 

 of various kinds, but principally of the Vegetable Kingdom, and 



