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worts. Probably no part of the world of a like size is so 

 rich in species of this latter section of the family. J> 



There is one class of plant which deserves far more 

 attention than it gets, and that is the Fungi. The weird 

 forms and often minute size render it unattractive to tht 

 young stiident, but its importance in the scheme of nature, 

 and its clashing with man's interest makes it a difficult, 

 but most important line of research. The objects we call 

 fungi are only the fruits of the plants The real body 

 consists of threads which permeate the wood, or soil, or 

 living plant, and when it proceeds to propagate it produces 

 on the surface one of the peculiar growths according to 

 its kind. Unlike green plants, fungi do not form food for 

 themselves, but procure what they require from plants, 

 living or dead, even in some instances from man. 



Fungi are often parasitic, such as rust in Wheat, Black 

 Spot on Apples, Thrush, Ringworm, or Diphtheria in man. 



Most Fungi live on dead plant remains, and as such 

 does some harm, but an immense amount of good. Were 

 it not for these plants, plant remains would not rot, but 

 would lie an encumbrance upon the earth. 



People as a rule call all umbrella-shaped Fungi which 

 are not Mushrooms by the one name of Toadstools, and 

 think they are poisonous. It is better to call them by 

 their scientific name of Agaric. Very few of the thousands 

 of Agarics which exist are poisonous. Many of them are 

 used for food on the continent of Europe. 



