1 86 [Proc. B. N. F. C, 



numbers and luxuriance, fungi are comparatively rare ; their 

 head-quarters seem to be in northern latitudes. Fungi are 

 classified according to certain arrangements found in their 

 reproductive organs. Reproduction occurs by spores, which are 

 produced in each plant in endless millions. Spores are unlike 

 seeds, in having no embryo. The mushroom or toadstool is the 

 fruit-bearing portion, answering to the berry, pod, or seed-vessel, 

 the plant itself being mostly invisible, and, if not subterranean, 

 is parasitic and eutophytic, and of cobwebby nature, like mush- 

 room spawn. A short sketch of each family of fungi was then 

 given : — i. Schizomycetes, or splitting fungi, are those that 

 produce disease, and are present in diseased blood, various 

 putrefying liquors, and most decaying food. It is important to 

 know that these plants, to which so much interest attaches as 

 the producers of zymotic diseases, can resist extraordinarily high 

 and low temperatures, without injury to their vitality. One of 

 them produces the so-called salmon disease ; another, Botrytis, 

 caused an annual loss to silk-growers of £ 4,000,000 sterling. 

 Such a minimisation and multiplication of their germs take 

 place, that it is impossible to come to any other conclusion than 

 that the germs are universally diffused throughout the atmos- 

 phere, a theory which appears to be necessary to account for 

 putrefaction. Mention was also made of the yeast plant 

 {Saccharomyces), to which we are indebted for leavened bread 

 and alcoholic liquors. 2. Hypnomycetes, or thread-like fungi, 

 are so designated because the thread-like plants are more con- 

 spicuous than the fruit. The dread potato disease {Peronospora 

 infestans)^ the turnip mould, and the wheat mildew are examples 

 too well known. The potato blight first appeared in August, 

 1845, in the Isle of Wight, having been previously known in 

 Canada in 1844, and in St. Helena and Liege in 1842. These 

 thready plants are far more common than most people are aware. 

 They all make most beautiful objects when freshly gathered, for 

 examination under the microscope. 3. Coniomycetes, or dust 

 fungi, so called from their looking like pinches of snuff or dust. 

 — This is one of the largest, most interesting, and mysterious 



