May 27 . 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER, 
137 
animals, or on particular substances undergoing decom¬ 
position. 
No one can picture the beauty of the lower groups of 
fungi but those who have microscopically examined their 
structure. Some, however, present objects of admiration 
even to the naked eye. For instance, who can visit the vaults 
of our London Docks without gazing with admiration on the 
Racodium cellare that there festoons their interiors. Many 
have the appearance of velvet, others of down, and are of 
the most lovely colours that can be imagined; others appear 
like stars, radiating as they do in their growth from a cen¬ 
tral point, which is probably, in the first instance, the ger¬ 
minating spore. In the lower groups, they are sometimes 
found on the surface of caves, and other dark and humid 
situations, growing in the manner above-mentioned. In the 
higher groups, also, this radiating growth is equally visible, 
which I shall explain when treating of fairy rings in my 
next paper. 
Fungi are the only cryptogamic plants that are parasitical 
in their growth; for although lichens, mosses, Ac., are found 
growing on other plants, it is generally believed they do not 
derive nourishment from the living bodies of these plants 
and deprive them of the nourishment intended for their 
support. 
As well as the minute plants known as parasitical fungi, 
may be noticed others of enormous dimensions, parasitical 
in their growth, now placed amongst our flowering plants, 
which in many respects, from numerous characters, show 
their close affinity to fungi. One instance is, Arnold’s 
Flower (Raffle sia Arnoldi), the largest known flower in the 
world, measuring from six to nine feet in circumference, 
each petal twelve inches from the base to the apex, and 
weighing about fifteen pounds. In structure this is very 
similar to a fungus, having the seeds assuming the condi¬ 
tion of spores, the buds wearing the appearance of fungi, 
the petals of a fungoid substance, and, like fungi, the odour 
of tainted meat. The Fungus Mililensis, called also the 
Maltese Champignon, or Mushroom of Malta, is another 
example. 
Fungi are very troublesome in greenhouses, and when 
once established are not easily removed, but make sad 
havoc amongst our choicest floral productions. They may, 
however, be considerably checked by covering mould, in¬ 
tended for potting, with boiling water, which should be 
drained, and when dry enough run through a sieve; also 
moss, pot-sherds, pieces of brick, Ac., used for the same 
purpose, should be scalded, to kill the larva of insects and 
spores of fungi, with which they are frequently loaded. 
Leaves and portions of plants affected with the same should 
be burnt to prevent their reproduction. The same care 
should be taken by the agriculturist, to prevent their being 
conveyed from place to place with straw or manure, as is too 
frequently the case, causing their injurious effects to be 
spread over an otherwise healthy track of land. 
We have long been aware that many animal and vege¬ 
table substances form, when sound, wholesome food, but in 
certain stages of decomposition are highly deleterious; this 
is the case particularly with pork, corn, and wheat-flour; 
and cases have frequently occurred abroad, and in this coun¬ 
try, in which persons, after eating such provisions, have beerf 
seized with the symptoms of poisoning; and eases are on 
record of persons having died in consequence of eating 
ham-pie, Italian cheese, and other articles of food, in which 
the presence of fungi has indicated the decomposition ; and 
it may be considered worthy of notice, that by experiment it 
has been proved that the poisonous effect lias not arisen 
from the fungi, as generally supposed, but from the substance 
on which they grew, and which was in a state of decomposi¬ 
tion. Therefore, we may consider them as faithful messen¬ 
gers, warning us of a concealed and treacherous enemy, by 
providentially revealing to us the presence of decomposition, 
and at the same tune rapidly removing it. 
As my object in this paper is to confine myself entirely to 
the lower groups, and to make my readers acquainted 111111 
the depredations they more particularly commit, I shall 
briefly refer to those I consider most worthy of notice. The 
genus Uredo contains the most injurious parasites; their 
spores are so minute as to be conveyed in the sap-vessels 
through the roots, with the water that contains the nutri¬ 
tious portions of the soil, and to be dispersed throughout 
the whole vegetable body vegetating in those parts which 
are unhealthy, or otherwise most suitable to their growth; 
and earth, carried from soils affected with them, will cause 
their spores to be dispersed and propagated on land pre¬ 
viously free from their attacks. 
Uredo Rubigo (Rust), with U. FfeUda and U. Segelum, before- 
named, are three particular enemies to our corn, but the two 
last-named are by far the worst, often annihilating the crop 
before suspicion has arisen ; but their presence may gene¬ 
rally be suspected by an unusual luxuriance and increase of 
stature in the corn affected. They have also been much 
confounded together, but the following characters will dis¬ 
tinguish them:— 
Uredo segetum affects the bushes, leaves, and straw, de¬ 
stroying the whole plant., which more or less shrivels up, 
and has the appearance of being scorched and dusted over 
with charcoal. It is the smallest plant, has no odour, 
quickly bursts, and discharges the spores, and is found in 
wheat, barley, oats, rye, Ac. 
Uredo feetida affects the grain only, the farina of which it 
destroys, leaving a greasy, sooty substance, which swells 
them beyond their usual size; when crushed has a very 
foetid odour, like putrid fish; is the largest plant; seldom 
ruptures the integuments of the grain; frequently not 
detected till the corn is thrashed; on wheat; seldom, if ever, 
on other grain. 
Puccinia graminis (com mildew) is very injurious to com, 
by depriving the plant of its juices; it consequently prevents 
the grain from swelling. Lanosa nivalis (snow mould) com¬ 
mits sad havoc amongst corn beneath snow, sometimes 
attacking whole crops, which it destroys, more particularly 
barley. JEcidium Bcrberidis (Berberry blight) is another 
fungus supposed to attack and injure wheat. This may be 
much doubted, but still it is quite worthy of the further 
investigation of those interested. Merulius lachrymans (Dry 
Rot) is very destructive to timber. 
The following will be more familiar to us in our rambles 
through the kitchen-garden and orchard: —JEcidium cancel- 
latum, Puccinia Prunasum, Sphcloda Pomi, Oidirnn fructige- 
num, on fruit-trees and fruit; Physisporium Solani, supposed 
to cause the potato epidemic; Tuburcinia scabies (potato 
scab) ; Botrylis infestans (potato mildew); Oidium Tuckeri 
(vine mildew), the formidable parasite so destructive to the 
leaves and fruit of vines; Erysiphe communis, a surface para¬ 
site overrunning and destroying the pea ; Fusisporium atro- 
virens, very destructive to onions; and Rhizoctonia Crocorum, 
a subterranean fungus on the roots of saffron, and very 
destructive. 
The following are too familiar under our own domestic 
roofs: —Mucor casei, on cheese; Pencillium crustaceum, 
on gum, Ac., prevented by the use of essential oils ; Mucor 
mucedo, on fruit, pastry, and preserves; Oschopa mucedo, on 
various bodies, especially bread ; Aspergillus glaums (blue 
mouldiness), assists in the decomposition of many sub¬ 
stances ; Peziza domestica , on damp ceilings and walls; 
Pencillium glaucum (the vinegar plant), on substances 
decomposing, and fluids in becoming acid, placed in sugar 
and water, soon converts it into vinegar. 
A few attack the living bodies of animals :— Uredo caprea- 
rum, on swallows; Sphorundonema musca (fly mould), 
destroys thousands of that insect in autumn; also Botrylis 
Bassiana (silkworm rot) is equally destructive to silkworms; 
Achtya prolifera, on the skin of gold fish; the caterpillar 
also carries about with it a Clavaria larger than itself. Nor 
does man escape, but, like vegetables, is attacked more par¬ 
ticularly when in an unhealthy state. 
The mothery appearance of beer, ropiness in catsup, owes 
its origin to fungi also; and the rotting of fruit, and fer¬ 
mentation of beer, has been attributed to the same cause; 
and the latter has been termed Cryptococcus fermentum. In 
conclusion, I cannot pass unnoticed Eurotium Iicrbariorum, 
that destroys the botanist’s collected wealth, which has 
taken him, perhaps, his whole life to accumulate. 
J. Yoeke Brocas. 
TOINTS OF BEAUTY IN POULTRY. 
It is, I believe, now confessed on all sides, that a standard 
of excellence for the different breeds of fowls on which 
amateurs bestow attention is very desirable, for the guidance 
