SMUTS AND BUNT. 
41 
tions. These spores will be found mixed with a number of 
delicate branched threads, to which they are attached by a 
short stalk or pedicel, visible with the higher powers. The 
surface of the spores you will also observe to be beautifully 
reticulated. These features just described as visible in the 
“ bunt 33 are the characteristics of the genus to which it be- 
longs ( Tilletia ), and of which it is the only British species. 
An allied species infests the Sorghum or durra, a grain but 
little cultivated in Europe, but found extensively in Africa 
and Asia, and also the Bajra of India. 
The interesting experiments of the Rev. M. J. Berkeley on 
the germination of “ bnnt ” spores have been already alluded 
to. They were undertaken shortly after the outbreak of the 
potato disease, to ascertain, if possible, the mode by which the 
minute spores of fungi inoculate growing plants ; and although 
at that time only a bare suspicion of the nature of the bodies 
resulting from the germination of ee bunt ” spores was enter- 
tained, succeeding examinations in the same direction have 
brought to light extraordinary facts, and manifested the pro- 
gress of the successive developments of four generations. 
The spores of “ bunt 33 are larger than those of the different 
species of “ smut,” and reticulated on the surface. When 
these are made to germinate a kind of stem is protruded upon 
which small clusters of elongated thread-like spores of the 
second generation are produced (plate III. fig. 5). After a 
time these spores conjugate, or become united by short 
transverse processes in the same manner as has been observed 
in some of the lower forms of Algae (plate III. fig. 6). The 
conjugated spores in the next stage germinate and produce 
a third kind of fruit different from either of the preceding, 
and constituting a third generation of spores (fig. 7). These 
in turn produce a fourth order of spores, so that in the process 
of growth the u bunt 33 spores evidently pass through four 
generations. Hence, as one result the number of germinating 
bodies is greatly increased, as well as their power of inflicting 
injury in a corresponding diminution in size. There are still 
many points in the history of the growth and development 
through successive generations of the “ bunt 33 spores, but 
enough is known, on the one hand, to show that this is a true 
vegetative parasite, and not merely a diseased condition of 
the tissues of the wheat plant, and on the other that it is 
perfectly distinct from all the phases of the other and similar 
parasitic fungi which affect the wheat crop. 
In the course of the preceding pages we have endeavoured 
to illustrate two groups of Coniomycetal fungi. The first of 
these containing four allied genera, in all of which a distinct 
peridium is present, i.e. : — 
