Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-04-23
LETTERS on NATURAL HISTORY.
Forms of Life.
No. 4.

Bl Dh. hlhAN Autumn
At the present time, every one who
possesses any love of nature, or even
love simply for marvellous things, desires
some knowledge of the minute mysteries
of nature. To follow out the peculiar
character of animal or plant when too
small singly for the human eye to study
requires II microscope. At the prices they
are now sold they are within reach Of al
most every person. With our microscope
complete wherever we search, be it our own
dwellings, the meadow or tn enpland. the
grasses or the forest. the ruin crumbllDg
into dust or the sands Of the seashore, even
in the waters of our marshes, rivers. LIKES
or ocean, there may be discovered plants
and animals which are unknown to our
unaded vision. yet endowed with organs
perfectly adapted 10 their respective neces-
sites; and with regard TO the latter. often
if not always for their enjoyment. Even
in the aqueous vapor and dust of the at
mosphere are germs of living beings, both
animal and vegetable. though the latter
much predominate, that the microscope
alone enables us to contemplate with any
satisfaction.
1t is true that when near sundown a
btam Of sunlight struggles through the
thick foliage Of u forest, or enters our
room by means of some small aperture
W. can see floating in that beam of light.
numerous particles OF apparent dust. yet
what its form. or its ultimate destination.
our unailed eye coud never inform US.
II is the microscope alone that gives US
aid. and that shows us countless spores, or
seeds. u reproduce minute vegetation, as
well as plants actually hourishing in the
atmosphere. Also tile germs of animal
life are often, yes, very often here; and,
Judging from analogy, we find thus an
ea,y method to propagate by germs vari'
Gus diseases in the hnman family; and
that such is often true is beyond reasona-
be doubt. us | have before shown.
In our United survey Of those wonders
Of life and organization, which are thus
revealed 10 us, it is natural 10 first turn
our attention to the vegetable kingdom.
And the largest number, as well as the
most interesting, of the peculiar plants
thus revealed in all their beauty; yet per-
haps the most difficult to understand, on
account Of their appearance, and interme-
date forms, are the various fungi
Their sudden appearance and growth,
their ephemeral nature, and the multi
plicity of their forms, have always been a
sonrce Of trouble to Investigators, and
even the most indefatigabe of modern
mycoogists have been able to lift but par
tally the veil which hangs over the life
and development of these organisms. Al
most every one, however, supposes that
there can be no doubt rs to what a toad
stool, 4 mildew, or ii mould Isl and some
may even correctly call them fungi, but
mtny others are entirely unacqnainted
with that Latin word which denotes them.
Rust on grain, and smut on Indian corn
and other cereals, are also familiar to
farmers; but vast multitude of other AL
too numerous fungi, are known only to the
botanist by name, and only to the mycolo
gist in their habits and structures, and to
him only after long and patient study. In
fact, it is TO the researches Of many emf
nent men and women, in Europe. Great
Britain, and in this country, both among
the dead as well as among the living. that
the structure, habits and mode Of growth
relation to the various departments Of in
dustry, injurious effects and general utili-
ty Of these smaller fungi in nature, are
collected and known. AS plants, though
of low order of organization, they are
of great interest as objects of beauty but
to attain full comprehension of this fact
we must have recourse to the microscope.
rs the peculiar portions of these structures
are beyond the reach of unaided vision.
No one :hat has not had his eye upon
them, aided by magnifying power, could
possibly conceive that the little specks o.
brown or black, seen on the brilliant ripen-
ing foliage of the maple in September
AID October, or on the dry stalks of plants
or straw, on old decaying matter, on the
bodies of diseased insects, like bees and
house flies; in fine, on almost everything,
are receptacles Of exquIsitely sculptured
and carved seed vessels, called spores
often beaded threadlike strings Of pearls !;
again, consisting of myriads of the most
fantastic shapes that the genius of man
could imagine, but could never initiate.
A subject so broad and so varied: one
which can be investigated at any season of
the year. inviting the naturalist, more es
pecally the botanist forth, from earliest
spring to latest autumn, to search for
forms of beauty on every living or ripeI-
ing leaf and fruit, and in winter, render
ing the evening lamp more attractive in
Studying the collected treasures of the
summers gleanings; even if such collec-
tions have not been made, the barn with
its harvested treasures is at hand and from
that may be taken specimens which can
never fail to interest as well as instl ucl
every thoughtful person in some way OF
other; and would ever be of the greatest
interest if presented in an agreeable man
ner, and shown with regard to their refer
ence, or connection. with the industrial
pursuits of society. 1t is therefore my
intention to present descriptions of such
fungi In a series of sketches to appear in
this paper
A marine insurance case came before =
distinguished judge during the recent sit.
Df Ln Il lnJ