MUSHROOMS 



of this puffball was used as tinder to catch the sparks 

 which flew from the flint when it was struck for fire. 

 The spore dust of this fungus has sometimes been used 

 to stop the flow of blood from a wound. 



Another variety that is quite common is the pear- 

 shaped puffball. These are found everywhere in the 

 world. They grow on old timber or on the ground in 

 groups. Those that you see in the picture were grow- 

 ing on the ground along a country roadside. The 

 group from which they were taken was about two feet 

 in extent. When they were picked the inside was white 

 and firm. Now they have turned dark. The spores 

 are ripe and are of a greenish brown. Some of them 

 have the hole in the skin, and a little pressure will scat- 

 ter the spores. 



All of the puffballs that have white flesh are good to 

 eat, as long as the flesh continues white. If, when cut, 

 the knife leaves a stain of yellow, the mushroom is too 

 old to cook. Puffballs that are dark inside when young 

 are not thought to be fit for food. 



THE CORAL FUNGI 



IF you have ever seen coral, you can guess why 

 these are called coral fungi. There are a great many 

 beautiful plants among them. All of them stand up 

 straight, or nearly so. Some are single, others are 



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