286 Liliputiau Enemies. 



the plants, in close masses, which become confluent lines in the grasses. 

 The spores are double on the ends of the filaments, one above the other, 

 looking like a single, oval spore, somewhat pointed at the top, which, by 

 constriction and septation, had become resolved into two. 



All of these fungi we have enumerated are of the simplest structure. 

 Though the individual plants are so infinitesimally small, they reproduce 

 with such wonderful rapidity, and in such amazing profusion, as to destroy 

 whole crops by their ravages. Their mycelium penetrates the soft tissues 

 of their prey, and, on reaching the surface, breaks forth in an eruption which 

 allows of no cure. A piece of glass, on which lie spread thousands of their 

 spores, would exhibit to the eye a faint mist ; and yet this mist will in- 

 crease into a black cloud which envelops and destroys a field of nodding 

 grain. 



Experiments of all sorts have been resorted to to prevent the attack of 

 these omnipresent parasites. But their occurrence is mainly due to atmos- 

 pheric influences. Their spores are everywhere, and can be called into 

 germination by circumstances favorable to their growth, either moisture or 

 drought. All fungi are more or less meteoric in occurrence. Season upon 

 season may pass without a sign of them ; and then, owing to favorable in- 

 fluence, often beyond our recognition, they spring broadcast into life and 

 luxuriance. Dr. Berkeley says, " The surest remedy is to steep the seed- 

 grain in some solution which at once washes off a portion of the spores, and 

 poisons the rest. Many remedies have been proposed ; as simple water, 

 salt, lime, sulphate of copper, corrosive sublimate, arsenic. The best, per- 

 haps, is sulphate of copper in solution (Glauber's salts), dried off with quick- 

 lime." These various parasites affect different localities with varying in- 

 tensity. They are more or less common all over the world, and ravage 

 the crops of England and Europe sometimes to a disastrous extent. The 

 dry air of New England is not favorable to their propagation to an alarm- 

 ing degree. Chas. J. Sprague. 



Boston, March, 1867. 



