246 [ASSE-\3BLT 



rUN'GALES. FUNGI. AGARICUS. MUSHROOM. 



"Erom Lindlctfs Vegetable Kingdom 1 take the following: 



A mushroom ip Kamchatka is freely eaten by the people to 

 procure an agreeable intoxication, yet it is one of the most poi- 

 sonous. It is called Amanita Muscaria, from its use to poison 

 flies. The inhabitants of the northeastern parts of Asia use it 

 for the same purpose as other nations use brandy wine, arrack, 

 opium, &c. These fungi are abundant there, about Wischna, 

 Kamchatka, and Wilcowa Derecona. They are gathered in the 

 warmest months, and hung up by strings to dry ; some diy on 

 the ground, and are said to be more narcotic on that account. 

 The common mode of taking this fungus is to roll it up like a 

 pill, and swallow it without chewing, because if you do, say the 

 Kamchatkans, it will disorder the stomach. The eifects appear 

 in an hour or two, highly exhilerating and durable. The people 

 preserve their urine for future drinking, as it produces the same 

 effects on them. Five persons taking this from each other in 

 succession became intoxicated. Mr. Drummond has sent from 

 Swan river, Australia, spawn of a large field mushroom, as much 

 superior to our mushroom as our improved peas are to the old 

 sorts. 



A curious kind grows on the living branches of South Ameri- 

 can beach trees — which is used for food during many months — at 

 Terra del Fuego. The Australian mushroom, called, Mylitta 

 Australis, attains a weight of more than two pounds, and is called 

 native bread. 



THE DAHLIA. 



Maison Rustique, Paris 1845. 

 Presented to tho American Institute by a Vattemare. 

 Extracts translated by II. Meigs. 



Grafting on the Tuxers. — This operation was tried successfully 

 in 1828, by Mr. Blake, of England, four j^ears after it had been 

 tried by Mr. David, at St. Cloud. It was proved to give a plant 

 in all respects the same as the parent, but much smaller. Mr. 

 Augustin Legrand has so perfected this process that by it, one 

 can reduce at pleasure, a dahlia, to an half or a third of its usual 

 dimensions, so' that in the small dahlia we enjoy as its beauties in 



