ECONOMIC MYCOLOGY. 233 



ECONOMIC MYCOLOGY.* 



BY J. GRIFFITH MORRIS, ESQ., 



PBEStDBNT OF THE WOOLHOPE NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB. 



In the work of education during early life little is done to draw out 

 and develop two of the principal faculties with which man is endowed — 

 observation and manipulation. Habits of seeing quickly, observing 

 accurately, and discriminating minutely are not acquired without 

 learning to use the eyes. Nor are delicacy of touch with lightness, 

 accuracj', and steadiness of manipulation without a similar education of 

 the hands. Readiness and accuracy of investigation and observation ai-e 

 likely to be of more service to most men in everyday hf e than any amount 

 of scholarship, whether classical or mathematical. Examining Boards 

 are now doing much to enforce the study of science at schools, and the 

 coming generation, not content with exclusively classical teaching, will go 

 forth into the world better prepared to advance the material interests of 

 mankind. 



This earth is beautiful indeed, 

 And in itself appeals 



To eyes that have been taught to see 

 The beauties it reveals. — Montgomery. 



From the study of any branch of Natural History two soui'ces of 

 advantage are to be expected — a beneficial result on the mental and 

 physical powers of the individual, and the practical utility of the know- 

 ledge gained. The student becomes a ■wiser and better man ; he becomes 

 elevated and refined, a love for the true and beautiful is created within 

 him, and his enjoyments are increased in proportion. 



Mycology is a subject with which the name of the Woolhope Club 

 is especially connected ; it well illustrates the truth of these remaz-ks, 

 and inasmuch as Uttle progress can be made in its study without the aid 

 of the microscope, additional educational advantages arise, for that 

 instrument in itself demands the practice of patience, order, and 

 observation, and developes the senses of sight and touch. 



Mycology presents a wide and fertile field of research. The progress 

 of recent science demonstrates more and more that the growth, repro- 

 duction, and life-history of minute funguses is of vast importance in the 

 economy of nature. To then- unseen causation are due most of those 

 changes which aifect organic life. Under their influence organic tissues 

 alter their form of vitality. 



"WTiat is called decay is in truth only a process to other forms of life, 

 sometimes beneficial to man in the production of wholesome food, but 

 more often injurious by causing disease and pestilence. 



It is ten years since the Club commenced the study of Agarics, and 



that series of discussions and papers began which have since given so 



much renown to it. The subject was scarcely introduced when in the 



following year prizes for collections of funguses were for the first time 



given at South Kensington, and Dr. Bull took the chief prize for 



Herefordshire. 



* Part of an Ail dress read before the Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club, at the 

 Annual Meeting, held at Hereford, on April idvOi, 1878. 



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