EDIBLE FUNGI. If 



used by the natives, and are also eagerly sought 

 after by the curious pouched animals of that land." 



Mary asked, if any besides the common mush- 

 room were eaten in this country ; and her father 

 told her that two other families of fungi are much 

 esteemed, namely, " the Morel " and " the Truffle ;" 

 the former growing up in beech woods, in a mush- 

 room shape ; the latter, an underground produc- 

 tion, black and warty on the outside, but white 

 within. Truffle hunters are assisted by dogs, 

 whose keen scent enables them to find out the 

 places where the fungus is growing. 



The children were also informed that the " dry 

 rot," which is often of serious consequence to 

 the timbers of ships and buildings, is a fungus; 

 also the blight in corn, and the diseases called 

 "smut," "ergot," and "rust;" likewise a blighted 

 appearance oil the leaves of some plants, such as 

 the dingy-red spots on the leaves of the pear-tree, 

 which are found to be caused by a small fungus 

 growing on the under side. 



" How odd it is that one vegetable should grow 

 upon another in that way !" said Robert. 



"You have seen many examples of it in the 

 LICHENS you are so fond of collecting," replied his 

 4. o 



