THE VIOLENT PROJECTION OF SPORES 147 



centrated my attention upon a ripe basidium which projected 

 horizontally from the hymenium in one of the tubes at a very short 

 distance above the glass slide (Fig. 53). So near was the basidium 

 to the slide that I was able to have both spores and glass surface 

 within the range of focus at the same time. After I had watched for 

 a long time, one of the spores suddenly left the basidium and became 

 deposited on the glass slide some six times its length from the 

 basidium. It had therefore been shot along just above the glass 

 surface for a distance of 6 x 13 /^ or 0*078 mm. The observation just 

 recorded, although the only one of its kind that I have been able to 

 make, seems to give another convincing proof of the fact of violent 

 spore-projection. The actual movement of the spore from the 

 basidium to its place of rest on the glass slide was not seen, although 

 I was watching with concentrated attention for the express purpose 

 of observing it. However, certain mathematical considerations soon 

 to be treated of, indicate that it is highly improbable, if not im- 

 possible, that one should perceive the horizontal motion, however 

 carefully one might make one's observations. 



