REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTAXJST 233 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



and when I backset the land next week, no doubt I shall find some more. 1 was at 

 a loss to explain what was the nature of the growth for some time, but I think I have 

 found out the real luiture of the funjrus. A few years ago this land was covered over 

 witli large white poplar trees, which had very large fungi on the trunks when they 

 began to decay; then they decayed and blew down. The fungus has not decayed so 

 rapidly and being of a spongy nature is not very easy to burn, as I have tried to burn 

 them. They are never found on prairie land, only on old busli laud." — Ci:oRf;F, Bovn. 

 Wclwj-n, Sask.. May 8. — ' A day or two ago I read in the Farmer's Advocale your 

 request for a certain fungus, but never having seen one did not expect to be able to 

 accommodate you with a specimen. However, to-day, when gnd)biug out tome willow 

 and poplar roots from a piece of backsetting, I found the object wliieh I am forwarding 

 under a separate cover and which I feel positive from your description, is what you 

 want. There was of course, considering the time of year, no fungus attached to it.'- — 



F. J. COLLYER. 



Xotre-Uame de Lourdes. Man., May 12. — ' I send you by mail a black ball-like 

 fungus, as you ask in the Farmer's Advocate. It was attached to the back of the 

 stimip of a poplar, which I send you too in the box.' — Albert de Briaxt. 



Saint Louis. Sask.. ^Vfay IS, 1906. — 'I saw in the Farmer's Advocate your letter 

 concerning the " curious black ball-like fungus." This fungus is very common in our 

 district, and I noticed it long ago. The Indians call it " ^Medecine de terre " (ground 

 medicine). They use it for poulticing. I do not discuss its properties in this resjject.* 



JlLES GoDARD. 



Cromwell, Man., May 22, 1906. — 'Yours of the 16th to hand. I am sending a 

 specimen of fungus growth that I ploughed up to-day. It is s-lightly cut with the 

 plough share, and not very large. I got several last year, as large as a man's head.' 

 Geo. W. Boyd. 



Togo, Sask/., May 26. — I saw in the Winnipeg Free Press you want to get a 

 sample of fungus. I presume this is the fungus you want. I have ploughed up several 

 pieces of this same, some pieces weighing 3 to 4 pounds. This piece, I ploughed up 

 alongside of a poplar bluff. I have ploughed this piece of ground three times, and I 

 think it is a new piece.' — Joseph Dickie. 



Miami, Man., June 4. — ' I am sending you specimens of fungus as per your request 

 in the Farmer's Advocate. The specimen that is cut with the plough, has only been 

 unearthed a few days. The other, I found on top of the ground a week or so ago. 

 The freshest one had its stem embedded in a piece of rotten wood. I have noticed 

 what appears to be the same fungus, growing on old logs wdiere some soil has c;ot 

 knocked on to them, generally burnt logs. Those I have found on the logs have always 

 been small and fiat, and without the stems that the larger ones have. Larger ones are 

 generally deeper in the ground than the smaller ones. Have found them as deep as 

 8 or 10 inches to the bottom of them, and having a diameter of 4 to 6 inches.' — ■ 

 H. T. Drxf AT.FK. 



Togo, Sa.sk., June 8. — "I received your letter of ^fay ol. I herewith send a siuall 

 piece of fungus I picked up since I sent you the first. It is somewhat dried, but I 

 thought I had better send it. I do not expect to be able to get any more this summer, 

 as I never get?it or see it only when ploughing stubble; so I think it must either grow 

 quick or is deeper in the soil than the breaking of the prairie sod. The soil is a samly, 

 very rich and mellow, subsoil clay. I have ploiighed up several pieces of fungus, have 

 examined them and thrown them away. If I had known sooner, I could have sent you 

 ]denty. Hope this small i»iece may be of use to you, and if T get any more, T will send 



it to you.' — JOREPJI Dl( KiE. 



Gilbert Plains. Man., June 23. — Some time ago I saw an artitde in the Farmer's 

 Advocate from you about a certain fungus growtli sometimes ])loughod up in this 

 district, requesting that specimens be sent you. You M'ill find inclosed a small one 

 of them which was ploughed up a day or so ago. There was nothing attached to it 

 in any way, but was just as it is inclosed. I wcudd'be very much jileased to know the 



