AN ORNAMENTAL PARASITE 



RAISED BY THE JAPANESE TO DECORATE BAMBOO CULMS 



TVOZABURO TaNAKA 



United States Department of Agriculture. 



BASKET DECORATED WITH ARTIFICIAL FUNGUS INOCULATIONS 



Figure 12. Rather an unusual industry is carried on by the Japanese to maintain the 

 supply of fungus-infected bamboo culms that are used in making basketry and other orna- 

 mental objects. Different species of fungi produce dififerent shapes and colors of spots on 

 bamboo. The varieties that are most in demand have recognized "trade names," and the 

 fungi producing them are propagated artificially. Photograph by E. L. Crandall. 



PARASITES of economic or artis- and Yuletide associations ; the Eastern 



tic importance tend to raise their peoples cultivate parasitic fungi be- 



class from the ill repute they cause they ornament the bamboo culms 



commonly enjoy. In the West the on which they grow. The beauty thus 



mistletoe is cherished for its prettiness obtained has economic value, for the 



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