A NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. 



barns, or bridges affording us the one surprising instance 

 of a domesticated fungus. It is not reported in its wild 

 condition, i. e., from the forest, but is apparently entirely 

 restricted to the wooden structures of civilized man ! Further- 

 more, it is said that the spores although abundantly produced, 

 have never been made to germinate artificially. It appears 

 also that the presence of considerable quantities of ammonia 

 is a necessary condition to the development of the fungus. It 

 loves a close, damp, motionless atmosphere. All these con- 

 ditions are unfortunately satisfied under the floors of stables 

 and in filthy unopened cellars, and it is in such places that 

 the "Dry rot" reaches its highest perfection. The remedy is 

 cleanliness and ventilation. Once started in a building it is 

 hard to get rid of. 



In its perfection the free edge and the surface of the fructifi- 

 cation are generally moist by reason of abundant minute drops 

 of some watery fluid, perhaps excreted, hence the specific 

 name, lacriinnns, weeping. The first external appearance 

 of the fungus is apt to be in form of small white radiating 

 patches of silvery mycelium. These rapidly enlarge until 

 they coalesce often to cover the entire surface of the timber 

 they destroy so that leathery strips several feet long may be 

 pulled off. Furthermore, on old sills, and in undisturbed 

 situations the fungus sometimes puts on surprising shape, form- 

 ing all sorts of tubercles, knobs and lumps as if deformed, 

 distorted pilei. 



2. Merulius corium Fries. 



Resupinate effused, soft, sub-papyraceous at length reflexed 

 with the margin free, beneath villous, white; hymenium reticu- 

 late-porose flesh-colored becoming paler, spores oblong lanceo- 

 late hyaline, 8x3- 



Our commonest woodland species, when fresh noticeable 

 by its delicate tints and soft velvety snow-white margin. 

 Usually found in patches of several inches extent on the 

 under side of fallen sticks and on ranked cord-wood in the 

 forest. The color changes with maturity and somewhat with 

 drying. The pores, small and shallow. 



