x.] MOULD OF ONION'S. 53 



the thousandth example will germinate at once ; and, in 

 the allied fungus of the Hollyhock disease, Puccinia 

 malvacearum, Mont., where nearly all the teleutospores 

 germinate as soon as ripe without any rest, it may con- 

 stantly be observed that a certain number of erratic ex- 

 amples do certainly hibernate. Provisions of this nature 

 are favourable to the existence of fungi, for, if plants were 

 strictly bound by inexorable laws as to habit of growth, 

 they might, by some untoward circumstance, be all sud- 

 denly swept out of existence. When unfavourable con- 

 ditions arise, a species may be kept in existence by indi- 

 viduals of erratic habit. 



No doubt the attacks of the onion Mucor may be 

 palliated by the destruction by fire of infected plants 

 and refuse. By this means all Sclerotia and perennial 

 spawn will be destroyed. 



At present Mucor suUilissimus, B., has only been re- 

 corded as growing upon the cultivated onion, but it 

 doubtlessly grows upon other and allied plants. 



