069 



of so rare a plant is exceedingly interesting. Having already ex- 

 pressed my sentiments on this very improper practice, I need not now 

 repeat my protest against it. 



Edward Forster. 

 Woodford. 



Fairy Rings. By the Editor. 



Our observations in the September number (Phytol. ii. 620) seem to 

 have attracted that attention to which we think the subject is fairly 

 entitled: supposing the theory we have therein promulged to be true, 

 then are the innumerable hypotheses of fairy-rings, without a single 

 exception, based on error: supposing, on the other hand, our views 

 to be hypothetical, then must deductions be no longer drawn from 

 facts, but our knowledge must cease and determine with the facts 

 themselves. For our own part, we have always held that theory is 

 the legitimate child of science, and we regard the aspersions so often 

 cast on theory, as the natural result of mental inability to distin- 

 guish between theory and hypothesis. Now hypothesis being found- 

 ed on figment, can have no claim to a place in any walk of science, 

 for the very essence of science is fact, truth, reality. Our view of the 

 origin of fairy-rings, then, comes clearly under the denomination of 

 theory, being deduced from obvious fact. 



There was, however, one point left untouched, and that a most in- 

 teresting, if not important one : we allude to the altered colour of the 

 grass, indeed, to that very circumstance which has called attention to 

 the subject ; for were not these rings marked by the altered colour, 

 we doubt the circular distribution of the agaiics ever leading to an 

 inquiry into the cause : we could readily have suggested that the de- 

 composition of the agarics fertilised the soil, but we found ourselves 

 without proof of their fertilising properties. This proof is now sup- 

 plied. 



A Mr. Way has subjected some of the agarics to a chemical ex- 

 amination, and has found that they contained 87*46 per cent, of water 

 and 12'54 per cent, of dry matter. He has given the following analy- 

 sis of the dry matter : — 



Vol II. 4 o 



