

FUNGI OF CLAY MINES.* 



BY PERLEY SPAULDING. 



During the fall of 1906 and the spring of 1907, a num- 

 ber of clay mines in the western part of the city of St. Louis 

 were visited for the purpose of determining the species of 

 fungi occurring upon the timbers. These mines are entered 

 by vertical shafts descending from 75 to 125 feet from the 



surface. From this entrance shaft galleries run horizontally, 

 or nearly so, for distances varying from a half mile to nearly 

 a mile, and numerous doors are usually located at various 

 places along these galleries. Considerable water seeps into 

 the tunnels from overhead, the amount varying at different 

 seasons of the year, but usually being greater during the 

 winter and spring. Immediately after leaving the foot of 

 the vertical shaft one could detect no light whatever. 



Along the galleries of these mines many timbers are used 

 . to prevent the caving-in of the roof. The timbers in deep 

 coal mines are placed with considerable care, and are fitted 

 together carefully, because of the great weight which they 

 bear and the permanent nature of many of the galleries. In 

 coal mines the tops of the braces standing each side of the 



tunnel are notched in such a way that the weight cannot pos- 

 sibly cause the cross piece to slide, or the notches may be 

 cut in the end of the cross pieces. In either case the two tim- 

 bers are fitted quite accurately together. At this point most 

 of the decay occurs, and the set of timbers has to be removed 

 because of a comparatively small defect. 



In the clay mines, on the other hand, the timbers are 

 intended only to prevent the caving-in of the earth imme- 

 diately above the galleries. The timbers never prevent the 

 settling of the large body of soil over the mine for one or 

 two feet. In fact, a mined area could be detected by an 



* 



* Published by permission of the Secretary of Agriculture. 



(189) 



