84 LAWNS 



come in his line of travel, and though he may 

 at times, and under special conditions, take 

 to a vegetarian menu, it is not purely the 

 nature of the beast. 



F.\IRY RINGS AND OTHER FUNGI 



Very common in lavsrns made in a wood- 

 land country is the peculiar growth of the 

 fairy ring fungus. By the time it attracts 

 attention the area of growth of the fungus 

 has usually assumed the form of a hollow 

 circle, the band in which the fungus is de- 

 veloped varying in width from six to twelve 

 inches. This method of growth never fails 

 to excite interest and has been indeed the 

 basis of much legendary lore of the Old World. 

 Starting from a central spot the mycelium 

 of this fungus spreads evenly outward in all 

 directions, seemingly exhausting the qualities 

 of the soil for itself as it travels, and conse- 

 quently, as it dies in the centre and is always 

 growing on the outer margin, the mature spore- 

 bearing fruits take the appearance of the 

 characteristic, ever widening circles. The 

 fairy ring fungus is not actually injurious to 

 the grass; indeed the growth of the grass in 



