ON THE CULTIVATION OF CERTAIN FUNGI. 193 



The Dainty Bolet (Boletus edulis) is so desirable a species that it 

 IS not surprising to find that various people have endeavoured to 

 cultivate it. The method adopted has been to choose a suitable 

 site, similar to the natural habitat, and to water it freely with an 

 infusion of the Bolets. But the plan has been very partially 

 successful. A suggestion is offered that affords more likelihood of 

 success. Let the earth and mycelium about the base of the Bolets 

 be dug up and transported to the desired site, and then let this 

 transplanted spawn be watered with infusions of the plant. There 

 will be then more probability of a crop being reaped next year. 

 Similar experiments have been tried in France with regard to that 

 delicious species, the Verdette {Russula virescens) , Sin(\. apparently 

 with more success than in the case of the Bolet. The author's 

 present opinion is that the fecundity of spores depends on the 

 presence also of the mycelium, and vice-versa, at least in some 

 species, though possibly not in all. He has always failed in trying 

 to raise Bolets, using an infusion — that is to say the spores — alone. 

 It has often been suggested that the Oread (Marasmius oreades) 

 would be a good species to cultivate. Certainly it possesses a very 

 strong and agreeable flavour, but on the other hand it can yield 

 little nutriment. The author has seen it accidentally transferred 

 from place to place, when soil was carried, and turf taken from 

 one field to another. Transplantation, indeed, appears practicable 

 in the case of many species. It is necessary that the whole plant 

 should be taken, with a quantity of the earth through which the 

 mycelium ramifies, and the new site must afford every suitability. 

 It would be well worth trying to propagate the St. George (A. 

 gamhosits) in this or other ways. It is a mushroom only appear- 

 ing in mild springs, and consequently is uncommon, though very 

 abundant where it does occur. It is, moreover, both substantial 

 and richly flavoured. 



The Giant Puffball (Lycoperdon giganteum) may be in so far 

 cultivated that, if its site be kept carefully undisturbed, it will 

 recur there annually. Moreover, it may sometimes be induced to 

 appear in a new spot, by depositing there a ripe Puffball, and 

 leaving it to decay undisturbed till next year. The author has 

 found that sundry species may be grown in this way on selected 

 sites, but unfortunately, except in regard to the Puffball — and 

 that is uncertain — none of those it is most desirable to cultivate. 

 Several of the Pezizas can readily be raised in gardens or con- 

 servatories, simply by depositing or burying the whole plant, and 







