164 MICROSCOPIC FUNGI. 



power^ as a drop of water is let fall at tlie edge of 

 the cover and insinuates itself^ by capillary attrac- 

 tion^ between tlie two plates of glass. So soon as 

 it touclies the moniliform threads^ the disunion 

 commences^ and almost before they are enveloped 

 in the fluids two spherules will scarce remain at- 

 tached to each other. This delicate little mould 

 on the grass leaf at one time bore the name of 

 Oidhivi monilioides. It is now regarded only as a 

 condition of another minute fungus^ to which at- 

 tention will shortly be directed. 



The vine disease^, so fearfully destructive on the 

 Continent^ and not altogether unknown in this 

 country^ is another of these incomplete fungi. 

 From an individual who at the time of its first 

 discovery in the south of England took consider- 

 able interest in the subject^ it was called Oidium 

 Tucheriy which name it continued to bear^ both 

 here and abroad^ until^ with many others^ probably 

 nearly all of the same genus^ it was found to be 

 onty a barren state of what is called by mycologists 

 an Erysiphe. The real discoverer of this mildew 

 was undoubtedly the Rev. M. J. Berkeley^ who has 

 successfully devoted a long life to the study of 

 these minute organisms^ through evil and through 

 good report^ and when that study was beset with 

 more difficulties^ and received less encouragement 

 than at present. If, towards the autumn^ we should 

 again collect some whitened^ mouldy^ or mildewed 

 grass-leaves^ similar in appearance to those men- 



