SPOTTING OF APPLES. 255 



the shores often seem more influenced by these salt 

 sprays than others more near, the wind lifting up the 

 saline moisture, bearing it aloft to remote parts, and 

 dropping it as it travels over the land or meets with im- 

 pediments. 



Our apples in some years are more inclined to be- 

 come spotted than in others, from causes not quite ob- 

 vious, as moist summers do not occasion it more de- 

 cidedly than dry. Particular sorts are more subject to 

 these dark markings than others. The russet, though a 

 rough-coated fruit, seems exempt from spots; whereas 

 some of the smooth-rinded ones, especially the pear- 

 main, are invariably disfigured with them. These marks 

 appear to be an gecidium, which we frequently find to 

 be perfectly matured, the centre occupied with minute, 

 powdery capsules, having burst through their epidermis, 

 or covering, which hangs in fragments round the mar- 

 gin. This aecidium apparently derives its nutriment 

 from the apple ; for immediately round the verge of the 

 spot the skin becomes wrinkled in consequence of the 

 juices being drawn off by the fungus. In most cases 

 the presence of plants of this nature is symptomatic of 

 decay ; but in this instance we find an exception to a 

 pretty general effect, for the decay of the apple does 

 not always commence at the spot, which does not even 

 apparently contribute to it for the whole fruit will 

 shrivel up in time by the escape of its juices, without 

 any decay by mortification. Though we are not able 

 always to ascertain the purposes of nature, yet this little 

 cryptogamous plant affords a strong example of her uni- 

 versal tendency to produce, and every vegetable sub- 

 stance seems to afford a soil for her productions. We 

 have even an agaric, with a bulbous root and downy 

 pileus,* that will spring from the smooth summit of 



* This agaric is, I believe, unnoticed. I have called it Agaricus 

 aurrectus. 



Pileus convex, expanding, covered with a pile of short, white 

 hair; centre depressed; faintly tinted with yellow; from one to 

 three inches in diameter. 



Laminae loose, irregular, generally four in a set, rather numerous, 

 broad, white, changing to buffj and then pink. 



