CHAPTER V 



WHEN AND WHERE TO COLLECT FUNGI 



Fungi are present in abundance throughout the year, and are to 

 be found everywhere, both out of doors and in the house. The 

 occurrence of most of the larger fungi, mushrooms, toadstools, 

 puftbaUs, etc., with which the majority of people ar,e most familiar, 

 during the autumn months, has led to the conclusion that autumn 

 is the only season when fungi can be met with in abundance. 

 This, as stated above, is true of the greater number of Agarics ; 

 hence fungus forays are held during that season, but the student 

 who wishes to know something of the fungi as a group, and to 

 become familiar with all the different families, must collect fungi 

 all the year round. 



During an ordinary season, damp, low-lying woods furnish the 

 greatest number of species of Agarics, Clavarias, bracket-fungi, etc., 

 but the ground must be fairly clear of dense undergrowth, bracken, 

 etc. A favourite place for fungi is by the sides of paths or " rides " 

 where the grass is short. 



Mixed woods, that is woods containing trees of various kinds, 

 generally furnish the greatest variety of species, but as the collector 

 will learn b}^ experience, certain species of fungi may be expected, 

 more especially in woods containing in quantity one particular 

 kind of tree. For instance, many kinds of fungi are rarely, if ever, 

 found outside a wood consisting of conifers, whereas, on the other 

 hand, many species of fungi never occur in pine woods. Many 

 species of Polyporus or bracket -fungi only grow on certain kinds 

 of trees, hence their possible presence is determined b}^ the presence 

 of the host. 



Judging from my own experience, collecting is best done alone. 

 Under those conditions you can do exactly what you please, and 

 go where you like. Fungus forays, as a rule, are comparative 

 failures, owing to having adopted the plan followed by most 

 field clubs and so-called natural history rambles, where a cut-and- 

 dried programme is given of the route to be taken each day. Such 

 route is usually miles too long, if the locality is at all prolific, and 

 it is certainly too long if the district proves to be sterile. The 

 only thing to do under such circumstances is to take the law into 

 your own hands, and do and go just where you please, even at 



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