FUNGI. 293 



In the Elvellacei group the Bags are disposed on a 

 Hymen ium nearly as much exposed as in the Agarics 

 and Boleti. 



The Edible Morel comes first in the order of arrange- 

 ment (Morchella escnlenta, Plate XIX., jig. 13). This 

 fungus rises upon a columnar stem, and its head is round 

 or oval. The Hymenium is spread over the surface of 

 the cap, and is honey-combed into cells. We have 

 gathered it frequently in groves and wood borders, and 

 the sight of it brings to our memory the fresh air from 

 the hills, and the ripple of the peat-stained stream over 

 the fine limestone rocks, and the cry of corn-crake, and 

 the rustling of young, foliage, and all the charms which 

 make the Yorkshire dales such a land of delight. We 

 never passed the Morels, for we loved to propitiate the 

 good graces of the cook by a timely gift of them, to 

 flavour her gravies with ; she had always a string of them 

 hung in her store room, and she was ever in fear lest her 

 stock should be exhausted. Xo fear of incurring; her 

 displeasure, even for keeping dinner waiting, if we brought 

 a handful of Morels, " Jews' ears again !" she would say. 

 handling the plants affectionately, " well, it is a good 

 thing when folks keeps their eyes open." But the 

 Germans in olden days were even more alive to the 

 gastronomical excellence of the Morel than our Yorkshire 

 cook. It was found that the fungus flourished in the 

 greatest luxuriance on wood ashes, and such was the rage 

 for the delicacy that large portions of the forest used to 

 be burned down annually, on purpose to secure a large 

 crop of Morels. The practice was stopped at last by an 

 express order from government. 



