298 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [Nov 
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structure fashioned like a lady's skirt or rather a crinoline 
which widens out downwards and reaches almost to the 
ground. Onto this crinoline the mucus spreadsin every 
direction. In our latticed fungus the portion smeared 
with mucus is bright red, and resembles a hollow globe 
having a wall of network, the globe being about three 
inches in diameter. In, other kinds variously branched 
coral-like appendages receive the mucus. 
The subject of parasitic fungi is so extensive that an 
extended series of talks would be necessary to make clear 
even the broad outlines of the study, which embraces 
members belonging to every family of fungi, the indivi- 
duals varying in size from the ephemeral microscopic 
mildews and rusts to the large woody structures, resembl- 
ing inverted brackets, which grow upon and destroy for- 
est trees. The following figures will give some idea of 
the enormous amount of injury done to the higher plants 
by parasitic fungi. 
In Prussia, according to the Statistics Bureau, the loss 
on the crop of wheat, rye, and oats, caused by fungi dur- 
ing the year 1891, amounted to $100,000,000, almost a 
third of the total value of the crops. In Australia the 
loss on the wheat harvest of 1890-’91 due to rust wases- 
timated at $12,500,000. In the United States the vine- 
yards have suffered terribly from the fungus pests. Up 
to the present time 30,000 acres of vines have been de- 
stroyed, causing a direct and indiréct loss of 20,000,000 
dollars. 
These are not exceptional cases, but average illustra- 
tions of the disastrous effects produced by parasitic fungi 
on cultivated crops. Until quite recently these epidemics 
were accepted with calm resignation, being considered as 
deserved visitations for wrong-doing. At the present 
day most civilized countries are establishing experiment 
stations for the purpose of studying these pests and devis- 
ing means for checking their devastations.—Quekett Club, 
ees eT ee elle 
