MICROSCOPE IN THE COUNTRY. 51 



at figure 95. It may be found on the surface of 

 preserves and jellies, and consists of a mass of fila- 

 ments or threads serving as ite base, from the 

 surface of which individual filaments rise up, bear- 

 ing a number of minute cells, which are the 

 spores, or reproductive organs. These are seen at 

 figure 96. 



Plants such as these, and belonging to the family 

 of fungi, are found everywhere on the leaves of 

 plants in the summer and autumn, forming irre- 

 gular spots, of a yellow, red, or black colour. If 

 such leaves are brought home and placed under the 

 Microscope, they present a never-failing source of 

 interest. The red appearance on the leaves of 

 wheat, called the rust, is due to one of these fungi, 

 seen at figure 93, plate 4. This appears to be an 

 early stage of the fungus, which produces what is 

 called mildew, and is represented at figure 94. 

 These fungi are so common on the wheat-plant 

 that their spores mingle with the seeds when 

 ground into flour, and can be found, when care- 

 fully sought for, in almost every piece of bread 

 that is examined under the Microscope. Mouldy 

 grapes, pears, apples, and other fruits, present fungi, 

 having the same general form as that of common 

 mould. Such a fungus is the Botrytis of mouldy 

 grapes seen at figure 96. Mouldy bread also pre- 

 sents a fungus of this kind. This species is called 

 Mucor mucedo, and is represented at figure 97. Its 

 spores are arranged in a globular form. A fungus 

 not unlike the last has been described as growing 

 in the human ear, and is figured at 98. The 

 leaves of the common bramble present a fungus 

 in which the spores are arranged on a more dense 

 and elongated head. This is called Phragmidium 

 bulbosum, and is represented at figure 99. Tlae 

 O'idinm which attends the blight of the vine, seen 

 E 2 



