276 



Mvcolosical Bulletin Nos. 6U and 70 



[Vol. IV 



extensive sheets of this punk are found several feet long and a foot or 

 more wide. These sheets of pure mycelium resemble soft chamois skin or 

 soiled kid leather. 



Mushrooms employed for flower pots. — In Bohemia (according to 

 Cooke, Fungi, etc., p. 103) hoof-shaped fruit bodies of Poly poms fomcn- 

 tarius and igniarins are used for flower pots. The inner, or tube portion, 

 is cut out. The hoof-shaped portion, then inverted and fastened to the 

 side of a building or place of support, serves as a receptacle for soil in 

 which plants are grown. 



Curios. — The Polyportis applanatus is much sought by some persons 

 as a "curio," and also for the purpose of etching. In the latter case they 

 serve as pastels for a variety of art purposes. The under surface of the 

 plant is white. All collectors of this plant know that to preserve the 

 white fruiting surface in a perfect condition it must be handled very 

 carefully. A touch or bruise or a scratch results in a rapid change in 

 color of the injured surface. Beautiful etchings can thus be made with 

 a fine pointed instrument, the lines of color appearing as the instrument 

 i'Z drawn over the surface. — ^Mushrooms. Edible. Poisonous-, etc. 



F'iK. SH. Po-ly'-po-rus suB-SE-Ri'-CE-us. An interesting little I'olypore, dark brown 

 and sill<y in appearance, growing in open wooifci and protected places, not 

 nccuning in ainindancc. The specimens from wliicli tlic plioto^r.-i] li wns 

 made wire suit frdni Cliillieitlic by Siipt. .M. 1".. lliird. 



