200 FOOTNOTES FROM 



rapid growth of cells in the fungi ; but, in the above 

 instance, it cannot for a moment be imagined that there 

 was any increase in the number of cells, but merely an 

 elongation of the erectile tissue of the plant." The force 

 developed by this rapid growth and increase of the cells 

 of fungi is truly astonishing. Monsieur Bulliard relates 

 that, on placing a fungus within a glass vessel, the 

 plant expanded so rapidly that it shivered the glass to 

 pieces, with an explosive detonation as loud as that of a 

 pistol ; while Dr. Carpenter, in his Elements of Physio- 

 logy, mentions that " in the neighbourhood of Basin g- 

 stoke, a paving-stone, measuring twenty-one inches 

 square, and weighing eighty -three pounds, was completely 

 raised an inch and a half out of its bed by a mass of 

 toad-stools, of from six to seven inches in diameter ; 

 nearly the whole pavement of the town being heaved up 

 by the same cause." Every one has heard of the por- 

 tentous growth of fungi in a gentleman's cellar, pro- 

 duced by the decomposing contents of a wine cask, 

 which, being too sweet for immediate use, was allowed 

 to stand unmolested for several years. The door in this 

 case was blocked up and barricaded by the monstrous 

 growth ; and when forcible entrance was obtained, the 

 whole cellar was found completely filled ; the cask which 

 had caused the vegetable revel, drained of its contents, 

 being triumphantly elevated to the roof, as it were, upon 

 the shoulders of the bacchanalian fungi ! Rapidity of 

 growth in fungi is necessarily followed by rapidity of 

 decay. Though some of the larger and more corky 

 species last throughout the summer, autumn, and winter, 

 and a few are perennial, growing on the same trunk for 



