258 FUNGI. 
Italy a kind of Polyporus, unknown in this country, is obtained 
by watering the Pietra funghaia, or fungus stone, a sort of tufa 
impregnated with mycelium. The Polypori, it is said, take seven 
days to come to perfection, and may be obtained from the foster 
mass, if properly moistened, six times a year. There are speci- 
mens which were fully developed in Mr. Lee’s nursery at Ken- 
sington many years since. Another fungus is obtained from the 
pollard head of the black poplar. Dr, Badham says that it is 
usual to remove these heads at the atter end of autumn, as soon 
as the vintage is over, and their marriage with the vine is 
annulled ; hundreds of such heads are then cut and transported 
to different parts; they are abundantly watered during the first 
month, and in a short time produce that truly delicious fungus 
Agaricus caudicinus, which, during the autumn of the year, makes 
the greatest show in the Italian market-places. These pollard 
blocks continue to bear for from twelve to fourteen years. 
Another fungus, which Dr. Badham himself reared (Polyporus 
avellanus), is procured by singeing, over a handful of straw, a 
block of the cob-nut tree, which is then watered and put by. 
In about a month the fungi make their appearance, and are 
quite white, of from two to three inches in diameter, and ex- 
cellent to eat, while their profusion is sometimes so great as 
entirely to hide the wood from whence they spring.* It has 
been said that Boletus edulis may be propagated by watering 
the ground with a watery infusion of the plants, but we have no 
knowledge of this method having been pursued with success. 
The culture of truffles has been partially attempted, on the 
principle that, in some occult manner, certain trees produced 
truffles beneath their shade. It is true that truffles are found 
under trees of special kinds, for Mr. Broome remarks that some 
trees appear more favourable to the production of truffles than 
others. Oak and hornbeam are specially mentioned; but, be- 
sides these, chestnut, birch, box, and haze] are alluded to. He 
generally found Zuber estivum under beech-trees, but also under 
hazel, Tuber macrosporw under oaks, and Tuber brumale under 
* Badham, ‘‘ Esculent Funzuses,” Ist ed. p. 43, 
