ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 17 November 1932, Page 4

ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY

LECTURE ON FUNGI

LOW FORMS OF PLANT LIFE

“Fungus and its relationship' to higher plant life,” was the -subject oi an address given in Hawera by Dr. W . M Thomson on Monday evening at a meeting of the Hawera Astronomical Society. Mr A. H. Larkman occupied the chair and there was a good attendance qf members. “The lowest forms of fungi are related to bacteria, and in the mushroom you have one of the highest types ’said the lecturer. With the aid of the epidiascope he showed several views highly magnified of the structure and form' of growth of different fungus. From tlie tropics to the polar regions fungi are found and from the highest mountains to the most exposed rocks on the sea. shore. In some cases they are parasitic; in a great many cases beneficial to this host and in others 1 it is. debatable whether their influence is for good or ill. In pine plantations ye flow toadstools were to be seen. These are visible evidence of the presence of a particular fungi whic-h are beneficial to pine trees. Orchids for many years could not be propagated until it was discovered that certain fungi had to be_present to enable them to function, The presence of certain fungi in some plants where they were not harmful, but in others where they certainly were, was paralleled by the study of diphtheria, and typhoid, where persons acted as carriers and so transmitted contagion. The body qf a child was sterile at birth but immediately imbibed germs until in some cases the contents of the stomach may be as much as one-third bacteria. Yet, apparently, we thrived on the visitors ! The. green mould on cheese was due to the presence of fungi. The speaker dealt with clubroot ip cabbages. .Legumes, with their nodules, derived nitrogen from the air, but it was a, curious fact that while legumes did not thrive on applications •of nitrogenous; manures sweet peas loved such manures. The Maoris in bygone times used the myeorhinga (fungi) for food and a punga-lined cache! was found in tlie South Island full of these hidden treasures. During the discussion which followed the address on matters ranging from botany and sanitary .engineering, immunity from infection in the Antarctic regions was instanced, yet when the ship arrived at Dunedin all the ship’s company contracted colds. - A vote, of thanks to Dr. Thomson I was carried by acclamation. ! It. was announced that at the j society’s! annual meeting in December | Mr A. K. Larkman and Mr G. M. I Townsend would give lectures.