CULTIVATION OF FUNGI. 81 



As regards matters of science or curiosity, the reproductive 

 bodies of many Fungi can be made to germinate very readily 

 by placing tliem in fluid in an insulated cell, or by simply 

 putting them upon a slip of glass under an air-tight bell-glass. 

 In cases where they do not germinate, there is some fault in 

 general either in the temperature or degree of moisture ; or 

 sometimes because mere water is not sufficient, without an 

 admixture of sugar or some other organic matter. Many 

 species of Mould may be raised very easily upon paste made 

 with ground rice under a bell-glass, and some Fungi may be 

 brought to perfection on rotten wood in the same condition. 

 The well-known Ergot may be induced to produce its very 

 curious perfect form (Plate 23, fig. 7), by simply sowing the 

 infected grains in a garden-pot, and avoiding extremes of dry- 

 ness or moisture.'^ Even some of the species which are para- 

 sites on living leaA^es may be propagated either by direct sow- 

 ing of the spores on the young leaves, or watering the soil in 

 which the plant proposed to bear the parasite grows, as in the 

 case of the yellow Rose Rust, with Avater in which infected 

 leaves have been duly steeped. 



It may be stated, in conclusion of this Chapter, that Poly- 

 porus igniarius has been artificially raised in Germany, by 

 merely collecting trunks impregnated with spawn, or likely to 

 be so, and keeping them properly irrigated. Several crops 

 have been obtained by this method in the course of the year. 



* Mr. Currey has induced tlie Ergot of the common Reed to fructify by 

 keeping the stem immei'sed in water. 



