MUSHROOM. 183 



about a fortnight or three weeks the plants will 

 begin to produce buds of sufficient growth for use, 

 and will so continue for a considerable time, if 

 carefully protected from, frost. 



36. MUSHROOM. FUNGUS. 



The botanic name of Fungus is given to this 

 plant on account of its spongy nature ; that of 

 Mushroom, so called by the English, is supposed to 

 be derived from the French name Mouseron, allied 

 to a species of fungus called Champignon. 



The mushroom tribe has afforded a wide field for 

 speculation to naturalists of every age, who have dis- 

 puted whether it consists of perfect or imperfect 

 plants : perfect in one respect, as some have been 

 known to produce seed. 



This class of plants, which the botanists rank as 

 the lowest order of vegetables, has been supposed 

 to assimilate more closely to the animal than any 

 other class of the vegetable world ; and the animal 

 flavour of the esculent mushroom leaves little doubt 

 of the matter. Upon the whole, to the growth and 

 formation of this wonderful though humble vege- 

 table, may well be applied the words of Thomson, 

 which are indeed applicable to the entire vegetable 

 kingdom : 



'Tis surely God, 



Whose unremitting energy pervades, 

 Adjusts, sustains, and agitates the whole. 

 His ceaseless works alone, and yet alone, 

 Seem not to work, with such perfection framed 

 In this complex stupendous scheme of things. 



N 4 



