OCTOBER 16, 1875.] 
THE 
GARDENERS 
CHRONICLE, 
489 
and that the plant in infancy is enveloped in a com- 
plete veil or bag, the presence of which is shown by 
the ring of cells and hairs which forms the circum- 
ference of the diagram. | 
For a proper comprehension, however, of this 
ngus much more than a superficial exami- 
1 
fig. 103 (7) —this enlarged 35 dia shows 
thei S ber of cells which make up one 
of the fugitive little plants belonging to Coprinus 
atus reference to the figure 1 be seen 
is covered with a few hairs 
remnants of the universal veil or wrapper) some of the 
smaller hairs being tipped with a gland. Another 
good 5 F 5 
will show the appearance of the plicato-radiate outer 
FIG, 104. —COPRINUS RADIATUS, FR. 
= ae fret 
Vertical section and surface of gill enlarged 150 diam, v, Basidia with spores; w, Cystidia. 
| of the pileus to be caused by a series of cracks 
ich are brought about by the necessarily sudden 
expansion of the cap, which act of expansion tears (in 
fig. 102, E, and fig. 103, К. A transverse section through 
the fungus when in an infant state shows the com- 
so- 
ch fig. 103, 
acters of the genus Coprinus is tha th 
net i 
et 
gi 
the stem (fig. 103, N), 
in thick 
[Шеш (0) down to the base of the stem. 
: € several spores may be seen at the base, carrie 
_ "P amongst the cells of the stem. On looking at an 
f 
power of the microscope 
few thousands of ce 
as and coun! is 
cult matter, it will be found that instead of thousands 
about 3,200,000 more. I ese cells and spores 
are only equivalent to the hundred-and-fiftieth part of 
a grain, it follows that in at ounce o cells there 
n one billi i and 
must be no less tha billion six hundred 
J ош 3 
spores. Іп а large Mushroom the cells would 
number hundreds of billions. Still more wonderful 
is the fact that each individual cell is furnished with a 
W.G,S. AD. NAT. 50 
e purpose 
thing of the life hi: 
istory of the minute but truly 
now beforeus ; and 
with thisobject in view 
R) is now perfectly clear, every cell being 
this 
d 
and the remnants of the universal veil or 
pper are seen on pens of Blew Ke cram 
amongst the cells of upper stratum of ca 
be ка various brilliant crystals which ке Ar 
the ammonio-phosphate of magnesia, and 6 
are 
which, in 
instances, arise from the manure 
| which supports the fungus, It is a matter of consider- 
exclusive | 
able difficulty to get a section like this, for if attempted 
clumsily no result will follow beyond a slight discolor- 
ati e of the E2353 tak 
the slice at the exact moment of t ven 
ngus properly, 
A fragment of the fruiting surface of a gill is shown 
at T. 
To understand the vital phenomena ot С, radiatus 
it is necessary to comprehend t i 
(and at maturity are very long) in the stem (fig. 103), 
and which spread laterally, and then dee or 
| less spherical in the pileus. When these cells reach 
the gills or fruit-beari 
Uv), а 
FIG, I05.—COPRINUS RADIATUS, FR. 
v, Basidia bearing spores; w, Cystidia; x, v, Spermatozoids. 
