MICROSCOPE IN THE COUNTRY. 



of fungi, are found everywhere on the leaves of 

 plants in the summer and autumn, forming irregular 

 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 

 (Fig. 88, PI. 4). This appears to be an early stage 

 of the fungus, which produces what is called mildew 

 (Fig. 89, PL 4). 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 carefully 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 penicillium (Fig. 91, PL 4). Mouldy 

 bread also presents a fungus of this kind (Fig. 92, 

 PL 4), but its spores are arranged in a globular 

 form. A fungus not unlike the last has been de- 

 scribed as growing in the human ear (Fig. 93, 

 PL 4). The leaves of the common bramble pre- 

 sent a fungus in which the spores are arranged on 

 a more dense and elongated head (Fig. 94, PL 4), 

 The Oidium which attends the blight of the vine 

 (Fig. 95, PL 4), and the Botrytis which accompanies 

 the potato disease (Fig. 96, PL 4), are other and in- 

 teresting forms of these minute parasites. Ths com- 

 mon pea is subject to a blight which is accompanied 

 by a peculiar fungus (Fig. 97, PI. 4), which, when 

 examined by a low power, presents a globular mass, 

 surrounded by minute filaments. Under a high 

 power the central ball is resolved into a series of 

 little cases, containing in their interior the minute 

 spores (Fig. 98, PL 4). Seeds, as well as fruits, are 

 liable to the attacks of fungi during their decay. 

 Fig. 99 ; PL 4, represents a fungus found in a mould 



