104 FUNGI. 



Fr., is employed in country districts for the domestic manu- 

 facture of vinegar from saccharine liquor, under the name of 

 the " vinegar plant." It is stated that Polysaccum crassipes, 

 D. C.,* is employed in the South of Europe to produce a yellow 

 dye ; whilst recently Polyporus sulfureus, Fr., has been recom- 

 mended for a similar purpose. Agaricus muscarius, Fr., the fly- 

 agaric, known to be an active poison, is used in decoction in 

 some parts of Europe for the destruction of flies and bugs. 

 Probably JLelotium ceruginosum, Fr.,t deserves mention here, 

 because it stains the wood on which it grows, by means of 

 its diffuse mycelium, of a beautiful green tint, and the wood 

 thus stained is employed for its colour in the manufacture of 

 Tonbridge ware. 



This completes the list, certainly of the most important, of 

 the fungi which are of any direct use to humanity as food, medi- 

 cine, or in the arts. As compared with lichens, the advantage 

 is certainly in favour of fungi ; and even when compared with 

 alga?, the balance appears in their favour. In fact, it may be 

 questioned whether, after all, fungi do not present a larger pro- 

 portion of really useful species than any other of the crypto- 

 gams ; and without any desire to disparage the elegance of 

 ferns, the delicacy of mosses, the brilliancy of some alga?, or 

 the interest which attaches to lichens, it may be claimed for 

 fungi that in real utility (not uncombined with injuries as real) 

 they stand at the head of the cryptogams, and in closest 

 alliance with the flowering plants. 



* Barla, " Champ, de la Nice," p. 126, pi. 47, fig. 11. 

 t Greville, " Scott. Crypt. Flora," pi. 241. 



