COS TUCKAHOE, OR INDIAN BREAD. , 



" The Tuclcalioe of which this is a part was at least 20 inches in length j 

 the dead root which you see in this ran quite through its wliole length, 

 and about which it was formed. The specimen was in a growing con- 

 dition when found, the growth proceeding towards either end of the root 

 between the bark and heart, showing there was something in the root 

 fiivorable to its development. The specimen proves that it has no top 

 growth."— (Thos. E. Baker, Fountain HUl, Ark., March 29, 1881.) 



In order to determine its botanical character, a searching microscopical 

 examination was necessary; this was prosecuted by Prof. W.H. Seaman, 

 of Howard University, and Prof. Thomas Taylor, microscopist, Agri- 

 cultural Department. Professor Seaman I'eports as follows. : 



''On February 25, 1881, I received a large fresh Tuckahoe from ISTorth 

 Carolina. The interior was soft, white, and crumbly; specific gravity 

 nearly that of water. Boiling made it more mealy; the iodine test 

 gave no reaction. The body of the fungus is composed of short, irreg- 

 ularly-jointed threads of mycelium, somewhat tuberculated, which swell 

 considerably on heating with water. The fungus is covered with a skin 

 or cortical layer much resembling the bark of a young pine tree, be- 

 neath which is a dense layer of dark-colored mycelium composed of finer 

 threads, from which at the proper season I should expect to find spores 

 developed." 



The appended report of Professor Taylor gives a detailed description 

 of many interesting experiments which I had the pleasure of witness- 

 ing. It is my desire to express my satisfaction with the examination 

 made by him — doubtless the most searching and satisfactory ever at- 

 tempted. 



" In my early experiments made some years ago, with Tuckahoe, I 

 was successful only in finding a few very mijiute spore-like bodies. In 

 these experiments the microscope only was employed, and the Tuckahoe 

 was used in its natural condition. In some recent experiments the 

 diiriculties encountered by reason of the cAacity of the Tuckahoe, I 

 called in the aid of chemical solvents with very gi^atifying results. In 

 consequence of the success attending this line of investigation, I made 

 the following experiments: 



" First I placed a portion of the crust on a glass plate, pouring over 

 and combining with it a few drops of strong sulphuric acid, which changed 

 it into a pulpy mass. Quickly and before total destruction of the or- 

 ganic matter could take i^lace I examined the mass under the micro- 

 scope with a power of 75 diameters, and found present a mass of dark- 

 brown mycelium. I have repeated these experiments many times, using 

 different pieces of Tuckahoe, with the same results. 



" In the second, experiment I placed a section of Tuckahoe, including 

 the broAvn crust, in a glass vessel containing strong nitric acid. After 

 tbe lapse of forty-eight hours I found that the larger portion of the 



