56 IMPORTANT USES OP FUNGI. 



and undeveloped, ("the scavengers are unemployed"); but as 

 soon as any quantity, large or small, of decaying animal or vege- 

 table matter, is left exposed, it is soon covered with a depo- 

 sition of spores, which rapidly develop themselves into Fungi 

 of various kinds. 



62. Their astonishing fertility, and the rapidity with which 

 they arrive at maturity, are among the most remarkable characters 

 of this tribe of plants. Of the former, some account has already 

 been given. Of the latter many instances are recorded. Thus 

 one species has been known to attain the weight of 341bs, in six 

 weeks ; and on the continent, Fungi of the same tribe have grown 

 to upwards of lOOlbs., having begun from a point not perceptible 

 to the naked eye. A large fungus of the Puff-ball tribe has been 

 seen to grow in one night, from a minute speck, to the size of a 

 large gourd. No other living beings have powers of growth at 

 all to be compared to this. The more rapid the decomposition, 

 and the greater the quantity of noxious exhalations which would 

 thus be spread through the atmosphere, the greater is the tendency 

 to multiplication and luxuriant growth, in these humble plants, 

 to which such exhalations serve as the most appropriate food. 



63. Hence what has been said by Naturalists of Insects, 

 applies with equal truth and force to these humbler tribes ; and 

 we may adopt, with slight modification, an interesting state- 

 ment, which has been given of the agency of Insects, as a striking 

 delineation of the operations of the Fungi. 



64. " The peculiarity of their agency consists in their power 

 of suddenly multiplying their numbers, to a degree which could 

 only be accomplished in a considerable lapse of time, by any 

 larger beings ; and then as instantaneously relapsing, without the 

 intervention of any violent disturbing cause, to their former insig- 

 nificance. If, for the sake of employing on different but rare 

 occasions, a power of many hundreds or thousands of horses, we 

 were under the necessity of feeding all these animals at a great 

 cost in the intervals, when their services were not required, we 

 should greatly admire the invention of a machine, such as the 

 steam-engine, which should be capable at any moment of exert- 

 ing the same degree of strength, without any consumption of 

 food during the periods of inaction ; and the same kind of admi- 



