FUNGI. 



accused of having killed it. Many are true parasites, and can only exist in the tissues of 

 living plants ; some, however, during certain times of their lives can live on both 

 dead and living vegetable matter. It is impossible and needless on the present 

 occasion to describe the different kinds of spores borne by fungi, some species bearing 

 as many as three and even four different kinds. One kind, known as resting spores, 

 may remain for two years without germinating. It is impossible to do more than just 

 mention that some fungi infest two perfectly different kinds of plants, and in quite 

 different manners. From their appearance no one would imagine that they were different 

 forms of the same fungus. The spores of fungi are very minute, and are easily carried 

 about by the wind or by anything that happens to touch the plant on w hich they are formed. 

 Those which then come into contact with a suitable position for their germination at once 

 start into life, and the contents of the spore pass into the leaf or other part of the plant 

 which is affected by the fungus. The spores of some fungi will not germinate unless they 

 are able to gain access to the tissues of their host, through some wound or injury to the bark. 

 Others which live in the ground on decaying vegetable matter, if they come in contact (as 

 they will do by spreading in all directions) w ith the roots of a suitable plant, enter them 

 and eventuallv infest the whole plant, causing its death. 



In the present work I cannot attempt to enumerate, much less to describe, the 

 various kinds of fungi which at times attack our cultivated plants. I can only call attention 

 to some that are particularly destructive or common, and mention the most useful recipes 

 and methods for dealing with them, as so many fungi only attack one kind of plant. 1 

 have given the plants in alphabetical arrangement, and afterwards alluded to certain fungi 

 that are by no means particular in their choice of a host. 



APPLE TREES are attacked by several different kinds of fungi. The most important 

 one, canker, is only too well known. This is caused by a fungus known as Nectria 

 ditissima. The spores usually gain access to the tissues through some wound or abrasion 

 of the bark, which may be very slight, for some have suggested that even the punctures 

 made by aphides are sufficient. The spore, having reached the growing cells, germinates, 

 and the fungus grows in the branch, bursting through the bark' here and there in order 

 to produce fresh spores on the surface. The little coral-like round dots that are sometimes 

 seen on the cankers are little capsules containing a large number of spores. When 

 branches are badly attacked there is no cure for them, and they had better be cut off. 

 If the canker is small and isolated it may be cut out and the wound tarred over. There is 

 a fungus that attacks the leaves badly, sometimes known as the leaf scald fungus 

 (Entomosporium maculatum). It begins as small red spots on the upper surface of the 

 leaves, which afterwards become larger and turn brown. When these spots are very 

 numerous the leaves are so affected that they fall, in very bad cases leaving the trees 

 almost bare. All the leaves from a tree which has been attacked should be collected and 

 burnt, and the next spring, as soon as the leaves have expanded, they should be sprayed 

 with Bordeaux mixture, and once or twice afterwards. When the fruit is attacked by fungi, 

 those that are not fit to eat should be burnt, and on no account be allowed to remain on the 

 ground under the trees, as is so often the case. 



CABBAGES and plants of a similar nature are very liable to be infested by the 

 finger and toe fungus (Plasmodiophora brassica 1 ), which is too well known to require any 

 description. The life history of this fungus is a curious one. The swelling of the roots is 

 caused by the action of the fungus in the cells, those which are attacked becoming much 

 larger than the others ; eventuallv some of these cells become filled with spores, which, 

 when the roots decay, find their way into the soil and burst or open, so that their contents, 

 which consist of minute masses of a jelly-like substance, are quite free, These little masses 

 have the power of moving about on damp substances, and when they come across the roots 

 of a suitable plant they are able to enter, and these roots are in turn attacked. It is quite 



