704 AUSTRALIAN FAIRY-RING PUFF-BALL, 



consequence was that the underground or vegetative portion of 

 the fungus spread all the more and enveloped the roots of the 

 grass, so that the soil was literally permeated by the destructive 

 mycelium of the fungus. In this way the destruction of the roots 

 of the grasses would be all the more complete, and no doubt the 

 constant cutting and mowing would hasten the decay of the 

 already languishing grass. In ordinary fairy-rings, too, the circle 

 is almost always imperfect, because some accidental obstacle 

 usually intervenes to prevent the mycelium spreading equally 

 outward. But in the bowling-green the circles were complete, 

 because the conditions there were so uniform. Every portion of 

 the green was regularly watered, rolled and cut, so that the 

 mycelium had an equal chance to spread all round. 



In seeking to account for the presence of the puff-ball in the 

 bowling-greens around Melbourne, the fact was elicited that only 

 in those cases where fresh sheep-manure had been used as a top- 

 dressing did the rings appear. I also observed that in the early 

 morning the puff-balls were uprooted and scattered by birds 

 (Minahs and Starlings particularly), and no doubt they would 

 carry the spores and even the spawn with them to other places. 

 This happened in the reserved spot where the puff-balls grew to 

 maturity. 



In suggesting a remedy, I discouraged the use of fresh natural 

 manure as a top-dressing; and the application of sulphate of iron 

 at the rate of lib. to 2 gallons of water, or a 5 per cent, solution, 

 prevented the appeax'ance of any fresh fungi. Of course the 

 ground was thoroughly soaked with the solution so as to reach 

 the underground mycelium, and it was found best to apply it 

 when the ground was dry and absorbent. Various fungi are 

 known to form rings, as well as other plants, but I am not aware 

 of many puff-balls adopting this habit of growth. Berkeley* 

 refers to Ly coper don caelatum, Fr., as often forming rings in 

 pastures, which it also does in New Zealand, and Professor 

 Farlowf notices L. cyathiforme, Bosc, as forming fairy-rings 



* Outlines of British Fungology, p. 302 (1860). 

 t Year Book of U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, 1897, p. 469. 



