198 
A GIANT PUFFBALL 
(With plate 205) 
A splendid specimen of the giant puffball, Lycoperdon gigan- 
a 
um, measurin oot in diameter and weighing three and one 
half pounds was recently found on the grounds of the New York 
Botanical Garde Mr. William Curry, ought it to 
Pp 
re vicinity, pues none o ae spenicn: ie uhigaies a i 
Nnres 
iameter. 
feet in diameter, although oe rarely become uch larger fae 
a man’s head. During a warm, wet season like the i one, 
conditions would favor rapid and unusual! developme 
nt pula easily Eeeoeniecd by its pee size and 
fields, pastures, 
ae ieee of the United oe as well as in 
arts of Europe and Asia. ine flavor of this species is par- 
d littl 1 T 
ticularly good 
bers comin ly some years au upon four large giant 
puffballs grouped picturesquely about an old stump in a be 
grove near , New York, and the pleasure he had, not 
only in gazing at them, but in getting them home and dis- 
tributing them uarter sections to a n of his frie 
balis are the safest of all fungi for the beginner in 
none of ft eing pois y m 
u wis s 
is sald be sales first. ee kind except the very small 
ones should first be cubes, after which 
they may be fried hence in butter, or dipped in beaten egg and 
‘w specimens of 
some good mushroom to make them attractive. 
W.A 
. A. MurriLy, 
Assistant Director 
