176 



MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



here, howevei*, nothing like a conjugation, and the worm-like body can 

 in no sense be considered a pollinodium. In Urocystis C epulis, at any 

 rate, the theory that the accessory spores are formed by the indefinite 

 interlacing of the hyphae around the globular cell, is not true. They 

 arise from a single definite, worm-like thread. 



In this connection may be allowed a few words about a fungus which 

 we have twice found on mouldy bread in connection with Mucor stolonifer. 

 The mucor seemed to be destroyed by a brownish purple mould, which, 



Fig. 1 



Fig. 2. 



Fig. 3. 



Fig. 4. 



Fig. 5. 



at first sight, was mistaken for the chlamydospores of the mucor. Micro- 

 scopic examination showed a fungus bearing a strong resemblance to 

 Corda's figure of Papulaspora sepcdonioides. In the present case we 

 wish merely to refer briefly to the formation of the fruit, which is evi- 

 dently sclerotioid in nature. When ripe, it bears a very close resemblance 

 to the spores of a Urocystis. The spore proper, although usually single, 

 as in fig. 5, is sometimes double. The hyphae, fig. 4, coil spirally, not 

 crozier fashion, as might be supposed from the figure; they are then 

 divided by cross-partitions into cells, from which bud-like projections, 

 a, b, c, fig. 4, are given off. One of the lower of these, as a, pushes up 

 into the interior of the spiral, grows into an oval form, and becomes the 

 spore proper ; and the others, b, c, etc., wind round it, forming ultimately 

 the accessory spores. The resemblance, both in the mode of formation 

 and the conformation of the ripe spores, between the present fungus and 

 a species of Urocystis, is certainly not very remote, but this is not the 

 place to discuss the subject in detail. 



In conclusion, allow me to return my sincere thanks to Professor Brewer 

 and Messrs. Sherwood, Ware, and Welles for the materials and informa- 

 tion which they have kindly furnished me. 



