454 PLANT DISEASES 



Massee, Journ. Board Agric., ix. p. 307, pi. i. (1902). 

 Potter, under the name of Chrysophlyctis endobiotica, 

 ibid., p. 320, pi. iv. 



FAIRY RINGS 



(Marasmius oreades, Fries.) 



Fairy rings, in spite of their associations, do a certain 

 amount of injury to the grass amongst which they grow, 

 and their presence on lawns is decidedly objectionable. 

 The fungus named above, which is the one most frequently 

 forming fairy rings in this country, may be collected and 

 eaten, being perfectly safe, and of good flavour. This 

 method of collecting does not, however, destroy the under- 

 ground spawn or mycelium, which migrates outwards, and 

 next season will form a fairy ring just outside the ring of 

 the previous season. 



Various other kinds of fungi in addition to the Mar- 

 asmius also form rings at times, but all are equally amend- 

 able to the following mode of treatment. 



PREVENTIVE MEANS. Soak the ground thoroughly with 

 full strength Bordeaux mixture, four times at intervals of 

 eight days ; or soak with a solution of sulphate of iron in 

 water, at the rate of one pound of sulphate of iron to a 

 gallon ; of water, for later applications use the solution half 

 the above strength. Success depends on the solution 

 being brought into contact with every part of the infected 

 area, and also well beyond the zone where the toadstools 

 are growing. Loosening the turf with a fork enables the 

 liquid to penetrate more freely. 



M'Alpine, Bull. Dept. Agric. Victoria, May 1898. 



