103 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTEY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION.— Junk 10,1856. 
or a little longer for its completion. Almost all the zoo¬ 
spores that I observed resumed their globular form soon 
after escaping, and ceased to display motile force in the 
course of six to ten minutes, after which they became, sta¬ 
tionary. To illustrate the rapidity of the formation of these 
capsules, I may mention that a tuft of barren tubuli re¬ 
moved late at night, and placed for observation in a glass 
cell, had developed in great luxuriance its fructification by 
next morning (within twelve hours), and from this 1 obtained 
the varieties of globular mother cells, and those with double 
and triple colls, and also those remarkable monstrous forms 
in which the barren tube grows again above the apex of the 
capsule. Some of the barren tubes grow to a very great 
size and thickness, and developed spores within their sub¬ 
stance ; this, however, was extremely rare. I also saw such 
a tube emit four spores from its extremity, but they displayed 
little motive power, and floated off only a short distance after 
their escape. I cannot decide as to these spores having 
cilice. Tliurot describes their having two, Alex. Braun 
found only one single short cilium. I did not succeed in 
getting them ; probably I might witli higher forms or with 
the aid of chemical re-agents, which latter process I avoided, 
as I wished chiefly to observe the development of the plant. 
It is, perhaps, too often assumed that cilite are indispensable 
for producing motion in cells. T obtained very perfect views 
of the mode of propagation of the spores. Many of them 
multiplied by a process of gemmation exactly like the cells of 
yeast; and the freshly-formed cell might by observation be 
seen with its fine granular contents aggregating together 
and forming larger masses, and even transparent glistening 
globules of oil. So rapid was this budding process that the 
same parent cell bad occasionally two, three, and four buds 
arriving at various parts of its surface and in different states 
of development. As they required a bulk nearly equal to that 
of the parent cell, I could generally observe the formation of 
a division occurring between the two; and this rapid evolu¬ 
tion of cells soon formed dense masses of vegetation, which 
by a little care could be seen growing under the microscope. 
1 would wisli to direct attention to a very interesting inode of 
development which I have procured sketches of—the forma¬ 
tion of thin hair-like shoots proceeding from a parent cell, 
and at its extremity the reproduction of the cell-form again 
resumed, in its usual condition prepared for active fissile de¬ 
velopment. I would merely state, in connection with this, 
that the growth of some forms of mould appears to be closely 
analogous to what I have described. Tims I have seen similar 
thread-like processes connecting the sporulcs of the Asco- 
phora Mucedo, and it appears to me to he both an indication 
of extreme vital energy in the reproductive process, and also 
an arrangement the object of which is evident, to enable the 
spores in their development to spread more rapidly over a 
more extended surface, and to interfere less with each other 
in their mutual growth. Having thus obtained a second 
condition of this plant, in which it is a rapidly budding uni¬ 
cellular body, I watched with much care for its return to 
the tubular form, and was able to trace it pretty per¬ 
fectly. As the masses of cells developed they became rather 
larger in bulk and less defined (their utricle or limiting 
membrane if at all existing being of extreme fineness), and 
from the surface of the growth, one of the cells developed 
the new shoot, which resembled in all tilings the parent 
plant. 
It remains now to describe what I believe is new, at 
least, as far as my researches go—the fact that this uni¬ 
cellular rapidly developing condition of the plant is per¬ 
fectly capable of destroying life in fish, many, indeed almost 
all of them, which have recently died with me, and I have 
now lost all my fish but three, have presented this state 
of plant alone (at least during life). It adheres in dense 
masses to the tins, the tail, and even to the edges of the 
scales over the body; it collects on tlie gills, disorganises 
them, breaks down the. higher organised tissues, lays bare 
the cartilaginous structures in the gills, tail, and fins, and 
interfering with respiration (as it seems to me), proves even 
thus move rapidly fatal than from its more slow but equally 
certain destructive action on the vital tissues. It is im¬ 
possible not to recognise in this, which might be termed a 
“ mycelium stage," a strong analogy with the mycelui stage 
of fungi. Wo know how dry rot, for instance, produces its 
destructive ravages in wood in its rapidly growing mycelial 
j condition, not in its more advanced state of development, 
and I have in my researches on this subject become strongly 
impressed with the conviction, that it is to this as yet un¬ 
recognised state of the Snprolegnia we are in reality to 
ascribe much, if not all, of the destructive action which it 
exerts on animal life. In fact, I believe we have in it a clear 
instance of a plant causing disease in healthy bodies, and 
not, us is loo often commonly believed, a mere vegetative 
growth developed on a body already in a state of ill-health. 
Such is, indeed, the general doctrine held with reference to 
Epiphytic growths occurring in disease, which are frequently 
regarded as accidental Epiplicenomenn, whereas their in¬ 
variable presence alone in such cases would of itself go far 
to the unprejudiced mind to prove a more intimate con¬ 
nection between them and the diseased condition which 
| they accompany, or, ns I think, frequently produce. 
Dr. Kinahan had seen this disease in the following 
aquatic animals while in a state of freedom and alive : the 
gudgeon, loach, cel (young), stickleback, fry of the salmon 
and trout, and common smooth newt. During one season 
it was so prevalent in one part of the Dodder that nearly 
all the salmon and trout fry were destroyed by it; he had 
also seen it on the larva of the dragon fly. 
LONDON MARKETS.— June 9th. 
COVENT GARDEN. 
Supply continues good and steady ; prices receding. Early Vegetables 
are now exceedingly good. Young Turnips , Carrots, and Spring Cttuli- 
fluieer in good demand. Continental produce consists of Green Teas, 
Artichokes, young Turnips , and Carrots; also, some good Tumutoes 
have come to hand from the South. Potatoes, from Cornwall, we are 
sorry to find, have shown considerable evidence of the disease during the 
past week. The trade for old ones is now very heavy. 
FRUIT. 
Apples, kitchen, per 
bushel. 8 s. to ! 2 s. 
,, dessert .... 
12 s. 
,, 20 s. 
Pears, per dozen .... 
Is. 
i> 3s, 
Peaches, per doz. 
18s. 
,, 36s. 
Nectarines, do. 
18s. 
,, 36s. 
Pine-apples, per lb... 
6 s. 
ii 12 s. 
Jersey Grapes, per lb. 
4s. 
,, 8 s. 
Hothouse ditto, ditto 
4s. 
,, 12 s. 
Strawberries, per oz.. 
6 s. 
,, l6s. 
Foreign Melons, each 
3s. 
,, 6 s. 
French Cherries, per lb. 2 s. 
,, 4s. 
Oranges, per 100 .... 
4s. 
if 108 . 
Seville Oranges, do... 
6 s. 
,, 12 s. 
Lemons . 
6 s. 
,, 12 s. 
Almonds, per lb . 
2 s. 
>i —s. 
Nuts, Filberts, per 
100 lbs . 
50s. 
,, GOs. 
t, Cobs, ditto .. 
80s. 
, , 100 s. 
,, Barcelona,per 
bushel . 
20 s. 
,, 22 s. 
Nuts, Brazil, ditto.. 
Pis. 
„ 14s. 
Walnuts, per 1000 .. 
9s. 
ii 12 s. 
Chestnuts, per bushel 
15s. 
VEGETABLES. 
Cabbages, per doz. Is. to Is. 6 d. 
,, Rcd.perdoz. 2 s. to is. 
Cauliflowers, each .... yd. ,, Is. 
lirocoli, per bdle. 3d. ,, 6 d. 
Savoys. Is. ,, 2s. 
Greens, per doz. tmeh. 4s. ,, 6 s. 
Spinach, per sieve .. — 4s. 
French Peas, per bshl. 6 s. ,, 10s. 
French Reans, per 100 2s. ,, Os. 
Carrots, per bunch .. 9d. ,, Is. 
Parsnips, per doz. 6 d. to gd. 
Beet, per doz. Is. to Is 6 d. 
Potatoes, per cwt. .. 3s. to 6 s. 
,, Frame, per 11). 4d. ,, Bd. 
,, New, per lbs.. 2 d. ,, 4d. 
Onions,Y’ng,per b’ncli. 4d. ,, 6 d. 
,, Old, per bushel 5 s. ,, 7s. 
Turnips, per hunch.. gd. ,, Is. 
Leeks, per hunch .... 2d. ,, 3d. 
Garlic, per lb. 6 d. ,, Sd. 
Horseradish, per 
bundle. Is. 6 d. to 2 s. 6 d. 
Shallots, per lb. 6 d. to Is. 
Lettuce, Cos, each .... 6 d. ,, 8 c. 
,, Cahbageperdoz. 2 d. ,, 3d. 
Endive, perscore .. ls. 6 d. ., 2s. 
Celery, per hunch.... 9 d. to ls. 6 d. 
Radishes, Turnip, per 
dozen bunches .... — to 6 d. 
Water Cresses, ditto .. 6 d. ,, 9d. 
Small Salad, per 
punnet. 2d. ,, 3d. 
Artichokes, per lli. — ,, 2d. 
Asparagus, per bdl. 2s. ,, 5s. 
Sea-kale,per punnet .. — ,,— 
! Rhubarb, per bundle 3d. ,, 6 d. 
Cucumbers, each. 3d ,, Is. 
Mushrooms, per pot Is. 6 d. ,, 2s. 
HERBS. 
Basil, per bunch .... 
Marjoram, per bunch 
Fennel, per bunch .. 
Savory, per bunch .. 
Thyme, per hunch .. 
Parsley, per hunch .. 
Mint, per hunch .... 
Green Mint . 
4d. to 6 d. 
4d. ,, 6(1. 
2d. ,, 3d. 
2d. ,, 3d. 
2d. ,, 3d. 
2d. ,, 3d. 
2d. ,, 4d. 
6 d. ,, sd. 
POULTRY. 
T he supply of Poultry gradually increases, hut the demand has, also, of 
late, been unusually great. It.has, consequently, been sold more to the 
satisfaction of all parties than is usual at this season of the year. 
Large Fowls .. 7s* 6 d.to 9 s. each. 
Smaller do .... 5 s. od. lo 6 s. ,, 
Chickens.. 3s. 6 d. to 4s. (id ,, 
Goslings. 6 s. to 6 s. 6 d. ,, 
Ducklings 3s. 6 d. to 4s. ud. ,, 
GuineaFowlOs Od. to 0s. od. ,, 
Plover’s Eggs, in bulk.... 
Quails .... 2 s. od . to 2 s. 6 d. each 
Leverets.. 4s. Od. to 5s. od. ,, 
Pigeons ...... Is. to Is. 2d. ,, 
Rabbits.... Is. 6 d. to 1 s. 7 d • ,, 
Wild Ditto., ind.to Is. Od. ,, 
Dottrell .. Os. od. to 0s. Od. ,, 
. 0s. lo 0s. Od. 
London: Printed liv Hugh Barclay, Winchester High-street, in 
the Parish of Saint Mary Ivalendar ; and Published for the Proprietors 
at Tiia Cottage Gardener Office, No. 20, Paternoster Row, in 
the Parish of Christ Church, City of London.—June 10, 1856. 
