T. KiEK. — On ihc Export of Fuiujus from 'Scui Zealand. 4.55 



animals and p'aal;3 avo cDustautly yielcTiag aTJitions io tlie catalogue of 

 organic substiinces dii-ectly or iuclirectly utilized by man, Fuugi and 

 Insccta, notwithstanding tlieir vast numbers, but rarely assist to swell the 

 roll. Any addition to the usefid species of either is therefore of special 

 interest, and on this, as well as other grounds, it is desirable to draw atten- 

 tion to the export of Fungus from this colony. It is practically restricted 

 to a single species — HirneoJa polijlricha, Mont., — which is plentiful on 

 decaying timber in all our forest districts. 



Prior to 1872, it was exported only in small quantities, but in that year 

 the amount declared at the various ports in the colony was 57 tons 14 cwt., 

 valued at £1,927 ; in 1877 it had increased to 220 tons 5 cwt.. valued at 

 £11,318 ; the total amount exported during the seven years ending 1878 

 being 838 tons, valued at £37,812. Its gradual increase will be seen from 

 the following return, for which I am indebted to the Collector of Customs. 

 Fractions are omitted for convenience : — 



Year. Tons. Value. 



1872 ,. .. C8 .. .. £1,927 



1S73 ., ,. 95 .. .. 1,195 



1874 .. .. 118 .. .. 6,226 



1875 .. .. 112 .. .. 5,744 



1876 .. .. 182 ., .. 6,224 

 1S77 .. .. 220 .. .. 11,318 

 1878 .. .. 103 .. .. 5,178 



From this it will be seen that the declared value is about £44 per ton, 

 or more than four and a-half times the nominal price of one penny per 

 pound paid by the merchant to the collector. As the fungus does not 

 require to undergo any process to prepare it for market, the actual outlay 

 connected with it is confined to the cost of collection and spreading in the 

 open air or in sheds for a few days to get rid of moisture. This, however, 

 is rarely necessary in the summer. At any rate, we have, in round num- 

 bers, the sum of £8,000 to represent the actual remuneration of the 

 collectors, while the merchants' profit is represented by the disproportionate 

 figure of £29,000. China is the sole market for our fungus. In 1873, at 

 the suggestion of Mr. Seed, Commissioner of Customs, the Colonial Secre- 

 tary made enquiry as to the purposes to which it was applied by the 

 Chinese. The Colonial Secretary at Hong Ivong stated in reply that it was 

 " much prized by the Chinese community as a medicine, administered in 

 the shape of a decoction to purify the blood, and was also used on fast 

 days, with a mixture of vermicelli and bean-curd, instead of animal food." 

 Later information shows that it is largely used in soups as ordinary food. 

 It was further stated that it was sold retail at about lO^d. per lb. As the 

 price paid to the collector in New Zealand does not exceed Id. per lb., it is 



