Fungi 



fungi, but generally increase by splitting in two at 

 maturity. 



The absence of green colouring matter enforces 

 life either as parasites preying upon living plants or 

 animals, or as saprophytes, that is, feeders upon 

 decaying animal or vegetable matter. The latter 

 mode of life, interesting as it is, and important as it 

 is from an economic point of view, does not concern 

 us here, nor do the fungi and bacteria parasitic 

 upon animals. There are many, however, which 

 subsist upon plants and do more or less harm to 

 them. 



Each of these parasitic fungi is, as a rule, to which 

 there are several exceptions, restricted to a small 

 range of "hosts," as the plants upon which they prey 

 are called. That is to say, for example, a mildew 

 attacking roses wiQ not also attack peas or goose- 

 berries. The exceptions are generally fungi which 

 attack plants already in ill -health, and some of 

 them are capable of living on decaying matter as 

 weU. 



The spores are so minute that they are readily 

 carried from place to place by the wind, or on the 

 feet of birds, or by insects, and they are, no doubt, 

 distributed widely by these agencies. Diseased 

 plants themselves may carry them from one garden 

 to another, or from a garden to an exhibition, where 

 some may be left upon a neighbouring exhibit. 

 (How often have we seen " rusted " chrysanthemum 



43 



