233 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, January 12, 1858. 
persed in the fruit, thus extensively and rapidly propagating 
the disease. There is no evidence, indeed, to show what was 
the nature of the mould on the leaves, or whether it was 
identical with that produced by the mycelium; but the 
fact is interesting, as suggesting further observation, and 
as tending to the establishment of the truth which is so 
reluctantly admitted by many, that Fungi are capable of 
producing extensive disease as well in vegetable as in animal 
tissues. 
The observation is further important, as showing one way 
in which Fungi may be extensively propagated in the tissue of 
phaenogamous plants, when once the mycelium of a moidd has 
been established; for the reproductive bodies 
produced within the threads, where there was 
no cavity filled with air proper for the develop¬ 
ment of the true fruit, might be carried by the 
means of the intercellular passages to any part 
of the plant; and it does not follow that these 
secondary reproductive bodies should always be 
of the same size as the spores. 
That disease is propagated from one plant to 
another appears very clear from the two follow¬ 
ing observations, which I shall give nearly in 
Mr. Hoffman’s own words. A Turnip was ob¬ 
served, whose leaves were covered with a 
species of Oidium. A fine half-grown Turnip 
in perfect health happened to be near it, and 
pushed imprudently one of its leaves in contact 
with the sickly plant. When first observed, a 
narrow white velvety border was visible on the 
edge of the healthy leaf, just where it touched 
the diseased one. The parasite spread from 
this border over the whole leaf in a few davs : 
and the poor young Turnip fell a sacrifice to 
bad company, for both decayed. 
The second observation was connected with 
the Grape mildew, which I have described in 
the Gardener's Chronicle , 1847. Some healthy 
plants of Chrysanthemum Indicum were placed 
under the vines infested with Oidium Tuclceri, 
and in a short time every plant was covered 
with the same Fungus. This suggested further 
experiment. Some self-sown Potato plants, of 
an early variety, entirely free from Botrytis , 
were potted off, and placed where the Chrysan¬ 
themum became diseased. All throve ad¬ 
mirably, without exhibiting any appearance of 
mildew. The Grape mould had no effect 
upon them. But when the leaves of a Potato | 
infected with Botrytis were shaken over one 
particular plant, in a few days it was mildewed, 
the plant became sickly, and eventually died. 
The bearing of all these facts on the possi¬ 
bility of the extensive destruction of plants by 
parasitic moulds is evident, and suggests the 
wisdom of extensive series of well-conducted : 
experiments. These, if made without prejudice, ! 
or at least with perfect impartiality, would, I j 
am convinced, lead to most important results, 
which would amply repay the pains bestowed ' 
upon them. Attention should be directed, first 
to the phenomena of growth and propagation, 
and then to the discovery of some means of 
prevention or of cure. 
I have said before that Onion mildew does 
not, in my opinion, arise from bad cultivation, 
or from peculiarities of soil, though it may be 
aggravated by either. The probability is, that 
the remedy must be directed to the seeds. It is, 
however, possible that all our pains may in the 
end be baffled by these minute plagues. “ Few 
things are more wonderful or more humiliating j 
to man than his powerlessness in contending ! 
against God’s army of small things, insects and j 
Fungi: he can subdue the monster of the sea, 
and the wild beast of the forest, but is con¬ 
quered in his turn by a tiny fly, or a few grains 
of dust.”—( Horticultural Society's Journal.) 
Note. —The species of Mucor may be thus characterized : — 
Mucor subtilissimus, n. sp.; mycelio repente ; floccis fertilibus ramosis, ramis brevi- 
bus patentibus sporangio omnino microscopico terminatis ; vcsiculis demum evanidis : 
sporis oblongo-ellipticis. . 
Fig. 2. Slice from the stem of a diseased Onion sending off abundant fructifying 
shoots, magnified to the same degree as the last. 
Fig. 3. A portion more highly magnified, showing the various states of fructification. 
Fig. 4. Transverse section of the Sclerotium, showing the dark outer coat of two con¬ 
tiguous masses, and the mycelium between them. The lighter portion represents the 
tissue of the interior of one of the masses. 
Fig. 5. Slice from surface of Sclerotium more highly magnified, with the mycelium 
springing from it. 
a. Mycelium springing from substance of Sclerotium. 
Fig. 6. Fenicillium candidum, exhibiting external and internal fruit. 
I 
VINE CULTURE. 
I can vouch for the success of the plan of growing Yines 
in pits, detailed by Mr. Fish, at page 220, No. 484; and “ the 
reason why ” is this:—that very plan was followed in culti¬ 
vating the second Yines I had ever seen in fruit with Mr. 
Niven, sen., between 1823 and 1845, at Belladrum, not far 
from Beaufort Castle, where I was raised: and I think Mr. 
