10 MICROSCOPIC FUNGI. 



spores^ or the ultimate sporidia produced after 

 three or four generations. It is possible that the 

 granular or fluid contents of the spores may be 

 absorbed by the plant_, and as a result of this 

 absorption^ become inoculated with the virus, 

 which at length breaks out in fungoid growths. 

 Much has been done to elucidate this mystery of 

 inoculation, but much also remains a mystery still. 

 There is no doubt that the inoculation takes place 

 at an early age,* probably in the seeds of many 

 plants ; in others it may be conveyed with the 

 moisture to the roots; but the spores themselves 

 have certainly not yet been traced traversing the 

 tissues of growing plants. 



If, instead of going in search of goatsbeard and 

 its attendant fungus, we turn our steps northward 

 and enter one of the Highgate or Hampstead 

 woods, where the pretty little wood anemone 

 {Anemone nemorosa) flourishes abundantly, and 

 turn up the radical leaves, one by one, and examine 

 their under- surfaces, we shall at length be re- 

 warded by finding one covered with similar 

 cluster-cups to those we have been describing as 

 occurring on the goatsbeard, but far less commonly. 

 Leaf after leaf will be found covered with the 

 brown spots of another fungus called Puccinia 

 anemones^ with which nearly every plant will be 



* Dr. de Bary has lately shown that in many similar instances 

 the seed-leaves are inoculated. It will be necessary to refer 

 more particularly to his experiments hereafter. 



