I02 
able whe the grass is short. They were 
formerly believed to mark the dancing places 
of fairies, and Mr. EK. W. Swanton says they 
are tc this day a puzzle to many of the old 
shepherds in Wilts aad Dorset (why not in 
Somerset ?), wko vouchsafe the explanatioa 
‘*Zome do say they do :ome by lightnen when do 
thunder.”’ The Rev. M. J. Berkeley, in his 
“ Outlines of British Fungology,” says :—“ It 
is believed that they originate from a_ single 
fungus, whose growth renders the soil im- 
mediately beneath unfit for its produetion. The 
spawn, however, spreads all around, and in 
the second year produces a crop, whose spawn 
spreads again, tke soil behind torbidding its 
retarn in that direstion, Thus the circle is 
co itinually increased and extends ipdefinitely 
till some cause intervenes to destroy it. The 
manure arising from she dead fungi of the former 
years makes the grass pesaliarly vigorous round, 
so as to render the zircle visikle even when there 
is no externe! appearance of tke turgus, aad the 
contrast is often the stronger from that hbekind 
being killed by the old spawn.” Mr. EH. W. 
Swanton, in his ‘‘ Fungi and How to Know 
Them” (1909), says: ‘* Later writers hold that 
a single fungus does not usually give rise to the 
circle in pastures, but that anything which may 
kill a small patch of grass—e.g., a heap of rotten 
manure—and thus provide a suitable matrix, 
may be a cause.”” The best known of these 
circle-forming fungi are the Fairy Ring Champig- 
non, Marasmius orcades and M. uvrens, but Dr. 
Watson tells me that the St. George’s Mushroom, 
Tricholoma gambosum, seems to be more notice- 
able in Somerset. 
Farry Stroots. Toadsiools (Long Sutton), 
Farry TABLES. A correspondent at Muchelney 
gizes me this as a local nane tor Mushrooms 
Farry Tuimeswies. The Foxglove, Digitalis 
purpurea. Called also FarmRiIzs’ THIMBLES. 
Farry TRUMPETS. (1) A rumber of corres 
pondents at South Petherton give me this as a 
local name for the Honeysuckle or Woodbine, 
Lonicera periclymenum. 
(2) A correspondent at Evershot gives it as 
a local name for the Hedge Convolvulus, Calystegia 
sepium. 
Farry UMBRELLA. A correspondent at Sher- 
borne gives this as a local name for the Field 
Bindweed. See FAtRigs’ UMBRELLA. 
FatsE BLossom. The male flower of Melon or 
Cucumber (always). Said also of any blossom 
which fails to set. (F. T. Elworthy). 
FAREWELL SUMMER. (1) A fairly general 
name for several species of Aster, popularly kaown 
_as the Michaelmas Daisy. 
