FUNGI. 361 
in consequence becomes free from saturation, it 
produces the usual fructification, and presents 
the common appearance of mould. Other fungi 
besides the blue mould may assume the same re- 
markable form when placed under similar condi- 
tions, and all of them may have the power of pro- 
ducing vinegar. Indeed, it need not be a matter 
of surprise, that fungi should assume such extra- 
ordinary appearances when prevented from de- 
veloping their usual organs of fructification, for 
do we not find even among flowering plants, which 
_are not nearly so plastic, or so susceptible to ex- 
ternal influences, very singular changes effected in 
their structure and conformation by being kept in 
a barren and undeveloped state? The tree mig- 
nonette is a familiar instance of the change effected 
in the structure of an annual plant by being kept 
from flowering during the natural period, and 
placed in favourable circumstances ; and still more 
surprising illustrations of enormous development 
of the vegetative at the expense of the reproduc- 
tive system will occur to the florist and botanist. 
It is worthy of remark that the vinegar-plant, 
when well supplied with food in an acetous solu- 
tion, divides at a certain stage of its growth into 
two distinct layers, which in course of time will 
again increase in size and divide, and so on; each 
layer being capable of removal to a separate jar 
