622 



could quote numerous authors who have born witness to the fact, if 

 our own evidence were considered insufficient. It should here how- 

 ever be observed, that this alteration in the colour of the turf is not 

 the constant concomitant of the presence of agaric-spawn : on the 

 contrary we have found this appearance produced by a very limited 

 number of species : and in some meadows where agarics (particularly 

 mushrooms) abound, fairy rings are altogether absent. It should fur- 

 ther be observed that the figure assumed by the spreading spawn may 

 be either regular or irregular : in the mushroom it is certainly irregu- 

 lar : this variation has an exact analogue among phsenogamous 

 plants ; in the Umbellifera; we have perfect regularity in the disposi- 

 tion of the flowers ; in almost all other orders great irregularity. 



A series of observations made on the common mushroom during 

 several successive years, have furnished additional presumptive evi- 

 dence, that they are the flowers of some plant which is concealed 

 from the eye. The mushroom-gatherers also supply this evidence : 

 from them it appears that common meadows, and meadows having a 

 much frequented right of way through them, are tenfold more produc- 

 tive than neighbouring meadows, which are strictly private; and 

 hence there is no temptation for the mushroom-gatherer to trespass 

 or break hedges. The solution of this curious fact appears to us 

 very easy : there is in almost all plants, in an ordinary state of health 

 and vigour, a tendency to produce blossoms : if this propensity be 

 allowed free scope, the plant puts forth its blossoms, and rests con- 

 tent with its achievement : but, if the blossoms are nipped ofi" in the 

 bud, the propensity is not satisfied, the end not being accomplished ; 

 and the plant, in many instances, will continue to produce flower- 

 buds, each succeeding supply being more numerous than the first, 

 but the size being generally much diminished. Now this is precisely 

 the case with mushrooms : picking them as fast as they appear inter- 

 feres with the design of nature in producing them : nature redoubles 

 her efforts, and the supply becomes far greater in number, but, at the 

 same time, the individuals are diminished in size. Now, were we to 

 regard a mushroom as an entire and perfect plant, it seems to us very 

 obvious that the avidity with which they are sought and gathered, 

 before they can by any possibility shed their seed, must soon exter- 

 minate the race in such public localities as those we have described, 

 instead of perpetuating, increasing and improving the supply, as is 

 confessedly and most incontestibly the case. 



It is with great pleasure that we have perused a pamphlet from the 

 pen of Mr. Allies, in which he touches (with his usual ability) on the 



