236 CHAPTERS ON FUNGI. [AugUSt, 



survive the day of their birth. Most Fungi however are short- 

 lived, — springing up, attaining their maturity, and decaying in 

 the course of a few days. Their rapid growth indeed is pro- 

 verbial. 



Fungi occur of almost all colours, except green, which is very 

 rare ; and in the few instances in which that colour appears, it 

 is of a verdigris tint, and not a pure vegetable green. Many 

 species exhibit very beautiful and brilliant hues^ and it has been 

 said that " in the colouring of figures of Fungi, the artist need 

 be under little apprehension of committing excess." In these 

 lower vegetables the element of colour, which has very little 

 weight in the discrimination of species of phsenogamous plants, 

 is allowed a large share of attention, and often determines the 

 species. 



The qualities of Fungi are various, but not very well known. 

 A few possess medicinal properties, as the Ergot [Spermcedia cla- 

 vus), but hardly any are used in modern medicine. Many spe- 

 cies possess deleterious or poisonous properties, as the Ergot, just 

 named, and many individuals of the higher tribes, as the genera 

 Agaricus, Boletus, etc. A considerable number of the more 

 perfect Fungi, particularly in the genus Agaricus, are edible, 

 and furnish a savoury addition to the dinner-table ; but in this 

 country there exists a great prejudice against the use of Fungi, 

 and the common Mushroom {Agaricus campestris) is almost the 

 only one employed. On the Continent, however, a number of 

 species is habitually used as articles of food, without any bad 

 effects. A great deal depends on the state in which the Fungi 

 are when gathered. If decay has begun, or if attacked at all by 

 insects, then even wholesome and edible species become dan- 

 gerous. The Mushroom, as is well known, is cultivated in the 

 gardens of the wealthier classes in this country. 



Fungi are found at almost every season of the year, and the 

 student of these productions thus enjoys an advantage over the 

 phsenogamic botanist, whose objects of research are confined to 

 particular seasons. There is no period of the year when Fungi 

 of some kind or other are not to be found ; and in the depth of 

 winter, when not a flower is to be seen, the lover of Fungi 

 finds a harvest in almost every heap of decaying sticks or dead 

 leaves. 



Fungi occiu' almost everywhere. At their proper seasons they 



