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18 
agree with pictures and too brief descriptions. Finally, such names 
as Woronin, Karsten, Marshall Ward, Farlow, and Brefeld testify to 
De Bary’s influence and success as a teacher. 
Dr. Oskar Brefeld, who worked for some time under De Bary, has 
laboured continuously for the past quarter of a century in elucidating 
the life history of the fungi. Among his earliest investigations are 
those classic monographs on AZucor mucedo and Penicillium, where it 
it demonstrated that these are conidial forms alternating with 
morphologically higher spore bearing structures. “he reproductive 
bodies of the conidial phase, in these and numerous similar instances, 
are produced in immense numbers, and in rapid succession, and are 
capable of germinating the moment they are mature, and serve the 
purpose of enabling the fungus to extend its area during the period 
favourable for its growth. ‘This process of reproduction explains the 
rapidity with which fungous diseases spread after having once gained 
a foothold, especially where the host plant occurs in profusion, as in 
the case of cereals and other cultivated plants. On the other hand, 
the spores produced by the higher stage of the fungus require a period 
of rest before they are capable of germinating, and hence, tide the 
fungus over that period when conditions are not favourable for active 
growth. 
In like manner numerous typical forms of every group of fungi 
were examined. 
Brefeld’s success in inducing spore-germination, and in growing 
pure cultures for long periods, thus demonstrating the varied forms 
assumed during different stages of development of the same species, 
has led to nothing short of a complete revolution of all previous ideas 
of affinity and classification. In the Basidiomycetes, where previous 
to Brefeld’s researches conidial forms were considered to be very rare, 
these conditions are shown to abound. The peculiar spore-like 
bodies on the pileus of species of Myctalis, previously considered as 
parasites belonging to a genus called Asterophora, were proved to be 
secondary reproductive bodies belonging to Myctalis. ‘The peculiar 
structures constituting the genus Ptychogaster, were in like manner 
proved to be the conidial forms of species of Polyporus. Perhaps the 
most brilliant of Brefeld’s discoveries are embodied in his papers 
devoted to the life-history of members of the Ustilaginez, which in 
addition to their great value as scientific contributions, are also of 
immense importance from an economic standpoint. Brefeld’s re- 
searches are contained in twelve volumes, illustrated by numerous 
beautiful plates, commenced in 1872, under the title “ Botanische 
untersuchungen uber Schimmelpilze.” In conclusion, it may be 
