258 FUNGI. 



Italy a kind of Polyporus, unknown in this country, is obtained 

 by watering the Pietra funghaia, or fungus stone, a sort of tufa 

 impregnated with mycelium. The Polypori, it is said, take seven 

 days to come to perfection, and may be obtained from the foster 

 mass, if properly moistened, six times a year. There are speci- 

 mens which were fully developed in Mr. Lee's nursery at Ken- 

 sington many years since. Another fungus is obtained from the 

 pollard head of the black poplar. Dr. Badham says that it is 

 usual to remove these heads at the atter end of autumn, as soon 

 as the vintage is over, and their marriage with the vine is 

 annulled ; hundreds of such heads are then cut and transported 

 to different parts ; they are abundantly watered during the first 

 month, and in a short time produce that truly delicious fungus 

 Agaricus caudicinus, which, during the autumn of the year, makes 

 the greatest show in the Italian market-places. These pollard 

 blocks continue to bear for from twelve to fourteen years. 



Another fungus, which Dr. Badham himself reared (Polyporus 

 avellanus), is procured by singeing, over a handful of straw, a 

 block of the cob-nut tree, which is then watered and put by. 

 In about a month the fungi make their appearance, and are 

 quite white, of from two to three inches in diameter, and ex- 

 cellent to eat, while their profusion is sometimes so great as 

 entirely to hide the wood from whence they spring.* It has 

 been said that Boletus edulis may be propagated by watering 

 the ground with a watery infusion of the plants, but we have no 

 knowledge of this method having been pursued with success. 



The culture of truffles has been partially attempted, on the 

 principle that, in some occult manner, certain trees produced 

 truffles beneath their shade. It is true that truffles are found 

 under trees of special kinds, for Mr. Broome remarks that some 

 trees appear more favourable to the production of truffles than 

 others. Oak and hornbeam are specially mentioned ; but, be- 

 sides these, chestnut, birch, box, and hazel are alluded to. He 

 generally found Tuber oestivum under beech- trees, but also under 

 hazel, Tuber macrosporum under oaks, and Tuber brumale under 



* Badham, "Esculent Funguses," 1st ed. p. 43. 



