SPOTTING OF APPLES. 
255 
the shores often seem more influenced by these salt 
sprays than others more near, the wind lifting up the 
saline moisture, bearing it aloft to remote parts, and 
dropping it as it travels over the land or meets with im- 
pediments. 
Our apples in some years are more inclined to be- 
come spotted than in others, from causes not quite ob- 
vious, as moist summers do not occasion it more de- 
cidedly than dry. Particular sorts are more subject to 
these dark markings than others. The russet, though a 
rough-coated fruit, seems exempt from spots; whereas 
some of the smooth-rinded ones, especially the pear- 
main, are invariably disfigured w r ith them. These marks 
appear to be an secidium, which we frequently find to 
be perfectly matured, the centre occupied with minute, 
powdery capsules, having burst through their epidermis, 
or covering, which hangs in fragments round the mar- 
gin. This aecidium apparently derives its nutriment 
from the apple ; for immediately round the verge of the 
spot the skin becomes wrinkled in consequence of the 
juices being drawn off* by the fungus. In most cases 
the presence of plants of this nature is symptomatic of 
decay ; but in this instance we find an exception to a - 
pretty general effect, for the decay of the apple does 
not always commence at the spot, which does not even 
apparently contribute to * it— for the w T hole fruit will 
shrivel up in time by the escape of its juices, without 
any decay by mortification. Though we are not able 
always to ascertain the purposes of nature, yet this little 
cryptogamous plant affords a strong example of her uni- 
versal tendency to produce, and every vegetable sub- 
stance seems to afford a soil for her productions. We 
have even an agaric, with a bulbous root and downy 
pileus,* that will spring from the smooth summit of 
* This agaric is, I believe, unnoticed. I have called it Agaricus 
surrectus. 
Pileus — convex, expanding, covered with a pile of short, white 
hair ; centre depressed ; faintly tinted with yellow ; from one to 
three inches in diameter. 
Laminae — loose, irregular, generally four in a set, rather numerous, 
broad, white, changing to buff, and then pink. 
