234 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS ' 



, , 7-8 EDWARD VII., A. 1908 



name of this fungus, as there have been a number of them ploughed up here at dif- 

 ferent times, always, I believe on light land.'— E. E. Dow. 



Duck Lake, Sask., June 25. — ' I am this day sending you by mail a sample of 

 what appears to me to be a fungus. This grows, or is found, about 6 or 8 inches below 

 the surface by farmers when ploughing in some localities. I have had several samples 

 brought me by different ones for information. The two I am sending you are quite 

 fresh now. When exposed, it becomes as if petrified. I saw an article written by you 

 requesting any one finding such a substance (and this I believe corresponds to the 

 article you describe), to send it to you for investigation by a specialist in fungi. After 

 this research I should like very much to receive the results for the benefit of myself 

 f.nd farmer friends.' — E. T. Shepherd. 



Holland, Man., July 9.—' I send you a fresh fungus ball, which I have just 

 ploughed up. Will you kindly let me know about it? It was cut by the plough.' — 

 John C. Walker. 



Gilbert Plains, Man., July 1-1. — ' I have received your letter of the 28th of June, 

 acknowledging the receipt of the fungus which I had sent you and asking for further 

 information about the same. I have been trying to learn something further about 

 this, but so far, have not succeeded in getting much information. You ask if it does 

 not always grow on land where there are, or have been, poplars growing recently. I 

 do not think this is correct, as, while the land where it is found is generally more or 

 less covered with poplar and willows, it is found on open spaces of land where there 

 have never been trees. I cannot find that it has been, in this district at least, found 

 attached to any plant, although there are sometimes marks or grooves on its surface 

 caused by its growing among roots. You are correct as to their growing at a depth 

 of four or five inches. As to the size of the largest I have seen, I have one at present 

 that measures six by eight inches, and weighs about six pounds. I have seen larger 

 ones than this, but did not measure or weigh them. I think the largest would be 

 nine or ten inches in diameter, but could not say as to the weight. If I notice 

 liny large toadstools at any time, I will dig down and see whether one of these 

 fungi is attached, and I will be pleased to send you any further information which I 

 may obtain, I may say that while it is usually found on light gritty soil, it is some- 

 times found on heavier soil, although not of so large size as on the light. 



' While v/riting the above another of these fungi was ploughed up, which I have 

 weighed and measured. It is six and a half by nine inches in diameter, and weighs 

 nine pounds. This is about as large a one as I have seen. As I thought you might 

 like to have it, I am sending it along with this.' — E. E. Dow. 



Mekiwin, Man., July 14. — ' I have to-day sent you by mail a specimen of a black 

 fungus which grows under the ground, principally in wooded parts of the country, and 

 more plentiful when the woods have been destroyed by fire. I think this is the fungus 

 which you were desirous of getting. I do not think that it has any connection with 

 any toadstool above the ground, as toadstools are very scarce in this part of the 

 country. This fungus is found only on first breaking the soil. I have never seen any 

 on old ploughings. Trusting it reaches you safely, and that it is what you were 

 desirous of getting.' — Archd. S. McGregor. 



Moosomin, Sask., November 8. — ' I saw by Farmer's Advocate last summer that 

 you wished to get samples of a kind of fungus- that grew in the ground. I will send 

 with same mail as this, one that I found one day this week, and which I think is the 

 kind you want. I found it when doing a little bit of breaking, and as you will see, 

 the plough share took a slice off the top side of it. The soil where I found it, was clay 

 loam, with black soil on top, perhaps 10 yards from a small slough with scrub between 

 and some small bushes all around. I also found one of the same kind a few years ago 

 when breaking, it was near a sloug-h too, and there was also scrub near it, but I think 

 rather lower and heavier land. The scrub in both cases was smallj mostly medium 

 sized willow. I also took the top off that one with the plough too. The soil where I 

 found this one was full of roots from the bushes and weeds.' — W. E. Adamson. 



