50 MYCOPHAGY. 



vegetative powers for months, and can be preserved in 

 a dry state, in which form they are imported as " Ger- 

 man yeast ; " a compound of capricious deportment, 

 inasmuch as a sudden blow is said to destroy its powers 

 of germination. A still more singular form of mould is 

 the vinegar plant, which, under proper conditions of 

 temperature, has an extraordinary effect in promoting 

 acetic fermentation. 



Potyporus squamosus makes an excellent razor-strop, 

 a fact to be noted by Mr Mechi for behoof of gens bar- 

 bata. The German tinder, or amadou of commerce, so 

 familiar to cigar-smokers, is made from the pileus of 

 Potyporus fomentarius, beaten out and steeped in a solu- 

 tion of saltpetre. Polyporus igniarius, when pounded, 

 is used as snuif by the natives of the northern region 

 of Asia. When burnt, several species of puff-ball have 

 anaesthetic properties similar to those of chloroform, so 

 that operations have been successfully performed under 

 its influence ; and it is used in the stupefaction of bees 

 when the object is to remove the honey without destroy- 

 ing them. Agaricus muscarius is employed, both in the 

 fresh and dried state, in the production of intoxication, 

 and more profitably as a decoction to destroy bugs and 

 flies. Cardiceps sinensis, as stuffing to roast-duck, is 

 said to have wonderfully strengthening qualities, which, 

 Berkeley shrewdly opines, probably reside in the sa- 

 voury vehicle. 



From the bright green produced in fairy-rings by 

 the decayed fungi of last year's growth, it has been 

 conjectured that fungi might, when abundant, form a 

 valuable manure. If collected for this purpose, they 

 should be filled up with alternate layers of sand or 

 light soil to absorb their redundant moisture. 



But the great value of fungi is their astonishing 

 resemblance to animal food, and their consequent use- 

 fulness as an article of human diet. Of all vegetable 

 productions they are the most azotised that is, animal- 

 ised in their structure. Chemistry demonstrates that 



