84 
modia loads one to strongly suspect it lias been digested by the mass. 
l)r. Wortinan performed experiments which seem to show conclusively 
that the plasmodium of Fuligo took in and digested starch grains. 
It is highly probable that the same takes place in the plasmodium 
above described. In this would be found an explanation of the fact 
already referred to, that in the medullary rays of diseased parts no 
trace of the starch can be found. 
Passing to stages which are probably later, since they occur in tissue 
where ripe spores are very abundant, the plasmodium is found filling 
the entire lumen of the cell and presenting a reticulated granular ap¬ 
pearance (Plate xv, Fig. 6 a a). Another appearance often noticed is rep¬ 
resented in Fig. 6 a b , where the granules have an aggregated aspect. 
These are probably changes immediately preceding spore formation, Fig. 
6 a c. A very peculiar appearance of the plasmodium is shown in Plate 
xvi, Fig. 15. The significance of this is unknown. A possible explana¬ 
tion might be the irritation caused by the presence of bacteria, but a 
series of transitional stages between those indicated in Plate xvi, Figs. 
15 and 16, were observed. 
The ripe spore is composed of a thin, transparent, refractive outer 
portion inclosing a more or less granular matrix, in which are embedded 
bodies of varying size, form, and refractive power (Plate xvi, Fig. 12). 
The nature of the bodies could not be determined: they may be nuclei or 
oil globules. From each of these spores a swarm cell escapes into the 
soil, where it may come in contact with the rootlets of the young plant. 
Among cabbages, and in fact all members of the genus Brassica , there 
seems to be no variety exempt from attack. Many varieties were sown 
in the same soil under similar conditions, and so far as could be deter¬ 
mined no differences were present. From correspondence the same con¬ 
clusion is reached. It is claimed that the rutabaga is less liable to 
attack than the common variety, and when sown in alternate drills with 
u purple top 77 they produce a fair crop, while the latter is much affected. 
As to the variety of radishes attacked, no information is at hand. It 
is now generally conceded that the disease occurs after all kinds of 
crops. The market gardeners consider it dangerous to grow cabbage 
or turnip crops on the same ground for even two successive years. Po¬ 
tation is absolutely necessary. After a cabbage or turnip crop all debris 
should be carefully removed and burned. 
It has been claimed that early sowing was the cause of the disease. 
While this is untenable, there is undoubtedly a great tendency for early 
sown crops to become infected, especially if the season be a wet one, 
thus making the conditions for the germination of the spores more fa¬ 
vorable. The disease is said to be more prevalent along trodden paths 
indicating that the rolling of ground is unadvisable. 
There can be no doubt that the disease is propagated to a considera¬ 
ble extent through the decayed material left on the field. Yet one is 
puzzled to account for the well established fact that it is found occa- 
