716 Handbook of Nature-Study 



When once the mycelium of such fungus becomes established, the tree 

 is doomed and its lumber made worthless even though, as sometimes 

 happens, the tree heals its wounds so that the fungus is imprisoned and 

 can never send out fruiting brackets. Thus it is most important to teach 

 the pupils how to protect trees from the attacks of these enemies, which 

 are devastating our forests and which sometimes attack our orchards and 

 shade trees. 



As soon as a tree is bruised, the wound should be painted or covered 

 with a coat of tar. If the wind breaks a branch, the splinters left hanging 

 should be sawed off, leaving a smooth stump, and this be painted. While 

 ordinary paint if renewed each year will suffice, experiment has shown 

 that the coat of tar is better and should be used. 



Especially should teachers impress on pupils the harm done by careless 

 hacking with axe or hatchet. We shall do an invaluable service in the 

 protection of our forests, if we teach the rising generation the respectful 

 treatment of trees which is due living organisms whose span of life may 

 cover centuries. 



LESSON CLXXXI 

 BRACKET FUNGI 



Leading thought The fungi which we see growing shelflike from trees, 

 are deadly enemies to the trees. Their spores germinate and penetrate at 

 some open wound and the growing fungus weakens the wood. 



Method It is desirable that a tree on which shelf fungus grows should 

 be studied by the class, for this is a lesson on the care of trees. After this 

 lesson the fungus itself may be studied at leisure in the schoolroom. 



Observations i. On what kind of a tree is the bracket fungus grow- 

 ing ? Is it alive or dead ? If living, does it look vigorous or is it decaying ? 



2 . Is the fungus bracket growing against the side of the tree, or does it 

 stand out on a stem? 



3 . Look at the place where the bracket joined the tree. Does it seem 

 to be a part of the wood ? 



4. What color is the fungus on its upper surface? How large is it? 

 How thick near the tree ? How thick at the edge ? Can you detect con- 

 centric layers or rings ? If it is the large species used for etching, cut down 

 through it with a knife or hatchet and count the layers ; this should show 

 its age. 



5 . Look at the lower surface. How does it appear to the naked eye ? 

 If you scratch it with a pin or knife does the bruise show? Examine the 

 surface with a lens and describe what you see. Cut or break the fungus 

 and note that each of these holes is an opening to a little tube. In each of 

 these tubes spores are borne. 



6. Have you ever seen toadstools that, instead of having the leaflike 

 gills, have beneath the cap a porous surface like a little honeycomb or like 

 the under side of the shelf fungi ? 



7 . How many kinds of shelf fungi can you find ? Which of them is on 

 living trees, and which on stumps or dead wood? 



8. If the fungus is on a living tree, then the tree is ruined, for the 

 fungus threads have worked through it and weakened it so that it will 

 break easily and is of no use as lumber. There must have been an open 

 wound in the tree where the fungus entered ; see whether you can find this 



