THE FAIRY RING 



September 2Qth 



EAR after year, perhaps, we see the " fairy 

 ring" of small fawn-colored mushrooms 

 out upon our lawn. As we first remem- 

 bered it, it was but a foot or so in diam- 

 eter, and closely clustered, while with each 

 successive crop it has spread into a more 

 widely scattered circle, until it is now several feet in 

 area. Who planted the seed in this fantastic form, and 

 why does this particular species especially favor the 

 circle or the crescent in its method of growth ? These 

 are questions which naturally occur to any one who has 

 seen the singular phenomenon. 



The freak well illustrates the peculiar conditions of 

 vegetation of the whole fungous tribe. These plants 

 have no seed, but are perpetuated by the aid of myriads 

 of dust-like spores. This is well seen in the puff-ball, 

 whose smoke-like puffs scatter their countless atoms to 

 the ends of the earth. Though they may fall in a mill- 

 ion places, no spore will vegetate into a plant unless 

 the conditions which the puff-ball requires are present 

 in the soil. 



In the fairy-ring mushroom, as in all other mush- 

 rooms, the rule is the same ; the spores are shed from 

 beneath the cap, and many fall upon the ground. We 



