104 AVORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1896. 



in most cases ; while the uudergrouud portion called the mycelium 

 certainly is more permanent, and may endure for many years, never 

 attracting notice save rarely, when in digging up an old lawn the 

 multitude of white roots or fine threads ma}' attract attention. 



One further strange feature must not be passed over ; that in the 

 production of the spores of the more conspicuous fungi, which I call 

 mushrooms, there is no evidence of sexuality. In almost all floweriug 

 plants, as we well know, the pollen must reach the pistil, in order that 

 seeds may be produced ; and the wonderful devices by which this 

 union is secured have attracted the attention of many profound 

 students of nature, and have stirred to awe and admiration all who 

 have been so fortunate as to read about them in the writings of 

 Darwin, or to hear such lectures as Gibson has given. 



The reproduction of plants by parthenogenesis, without pollen, has 

 been proven in the case of a rather common plant, very similar to our 

 life-everlasting ; and it seems to be universal among the conspicuous 

 fungi, but in the smaller sorts, moulds and bacteria, etc., the sexual 

 function again assumes its place. 



The larger species of fungi are classified on systems largely based 

 upon their spores, and the manner in which the spores are produced. 

 The first great divisions are : 



1 . Fungi whose spores are produced in the interior. 



2. Fungi whose spores are produced on upper or exterior surface 

 of cap. 



3. Fungi whose spores are produced on lower surface of cap. 



In the first of these great divisions are found the puff balls ; of 

 which some have white and some have purple flesh, in the early 

 growing state.' Here are three varieties which may be met with about 

 here, the largest is rarely found above 6 inches in diameter but a 

 little farther south it has reached 20 inches in diameter. When cut 

 across, at the eatable stage, that is to say, as soon as it is developed, 

 the flesh is soft, quite homogeneous, and beautifully white and clean. 

 Later it becomes discolored, yellowish brown, cottony and dusty. 

 The smaller sorts go through a similar change ; at first white and 

 more or less edible, they rapidly dry, until when crushed between the 

 fingers they emit a puff of smoke. Other puff balls have dark flesh 

 from the start, like the sclerodermas, and are not fit for food. These 

 varieties are common ; spiny or warty without, very dark purple 

 within. 



In the next great division, the spores are produced on the upper 

 surface, and the representative genus with us is the morchella or 



