AGARICS 



107 



" These rings are sometimes of very ancient date, 

 and attain such enormous dimensions as to be dis- 

 tinctly visible on a hill-side for a great 

 The "ring" distance. It is believed that they orig- 

 explained inate from a single fungus whose growth 

 renders the soil immediately beneath 

 unfit for its reproduction. The spawn, however, 

 spreads all around, and in the second year produces 

 a crop, whose spawn spreads again, the exhausted 

 soil behind forbidding its return in that direction. 

 Thus the circle is continually increased, and extends 

 indefinitely till some cause intervenes to destroy it. 

 If the spawn does not spread on all sides at first, an 

 arc of a circle only is produced. The manure aris- 

 ing from the dead fungi of former years makes the 

 grass peculiarly vigorous around, so as to render the 

 circle visible even when there is no external appear- 

 ance of fungus, and the contrast is often stronger 

 from that behind being killed by the old spawn. 

 This mode of growth is far more common than is 

 supposed, and may be observed constantly in our 

 woods, where the spawn can spread only in the soil 

 or among the leaves and decaying fragments which 

 cover it." 



Many recipes are recommended for the preparation 

 of this mushroom, some of which are given in a later 

 chapter, including the method of des- 

 Various iccation so commonly employed with 

 recipes other species, and by which the cham- 

 pignon may be kept for ready use 

 throughout the winter months. 



In its fresh state, according to J. M. Berkeley, " When 



