im [Assembly 



the idea of an accidental production of mushroom or other fungus; 

 he says that in one of these " Reticularia Maxima'^ he reckoned 

 ten millions of these sporules; they are scarcely visible to the 

 naked eye, and often resemble thin smoke; that they rise into the 

 air by an attraction of the sun, by evaporation, insects, wind, 

 elasticity, adhesion, &c.; it is diffcult to conceive of a place from 

 which they are excluded. [Note by H. Meigs.] — Boys and men 

 in the country have almost all observed the smoke which rushes 

 out of a dry puff-ball (a fungus) when quickly struck or trod 

 upon. 



Dutrochet obtained different genera of fungus (mould) by using 

 different infusions. Certain acid fluids produced monilias, and 

 alkaline mixtures yielded botrytis. It is supposed by some that 

 the seeds (sporules) of one sort can produce several different ones 

 including mosses. The fungi out of the tropics are so numerous 

 that no one can conjecture the number of them. If they are for- 

 tuitous, then of course the number is not to be determined. Tries 

 discovered two thousand species within the compass of a square 

 furlong. About half a dozen kinds of mushrooms are eaten in 

 London, but in Paris none are permitted to appear for sale except 

 the common truffle, morel and mushroom. Extreme caution is 

 necessary in using them, for it has been found that some of those 

 which are usually perfectly wholesome sometimes produce the 

 most disastrous effects on those who eat them. It is true that 

 Pallas names many kinds which are eaten wath impunity by the 

 Russians. Climate, or the mode of cooking them, may cause this 

 difference. Delile says that Paulet, in 1776, ascertained that salt 

 and vinegar removed every deleterious principle from that most 

 poisonous fungus the agarian, and the Russians always salt them, 

 still none are safe but our cultivated mushrooms. 



Australia produces a fungus weighing two pounds, eaten by the 

 natives by the name of native bread. The marsupial aniaials 

 [pouch animals) devour these greedily. — Lindley^s Vegetable King- 

 dom. 



Note by H. Meigs. — The fact that any animal feeds and flourishes 

 on a particular food forms no lesson fur man. I have seen a goat 



