220 
edible fungi of which analyses have been previously made. In these 
analyses we find at least twice or thrice as much albuminoid matters, 
The substanze or group of substances which I have called ** digestible 
carbohydrates” contains neither starch, no r inulin, nor cellulose 
chief constituent is a gum-like body appar rently allied to bassorin and 
well worthy of further examination. It swells up greatly in water and 
is soluble in dilute warm solutions of caustic alkalies. Its alatis 
gelatinize on cooling. I have observed what seems to e sa 
co saat n other species of fungi, and it is ear that it has been 
= ibed under several different names. ‘The fungus now being dis- 
contains so large a proportion of this body that it presents a ver 
convenient material for its isolation and the study of its composition and 
roperti 
The ick of this fungus i is rich in potash and phosphoric acid. Of the 
former constituent the ash contains no less than 42°02 per cent. ; of the 
ewe «d 02. "— proportions are exceeded in the ash of other 
moreover, the amount of ash in one hundred parts of this 
Hirneola i is esie Lew than that recorded for other P 
(Signed) A. H, Caurcu. 
GEEK. MEXICAN FIBRE OR ISTLE. 
The source of Mexican Fibre or Istle was discussed in the Kew 
Bulletin | for I December 1887, p. 5. This is a short and somewhat rigid 
fibre, used in the aen aal of cheap bet and scrubbing brushes. 
The fibre is prepared from one or more species of Agave, but, as stated 
in the Bulletin, it is probable that the Mme known as Le chuguilla 
(Agave heteracantha, Zucc., Agave Lechuguilla, Torrey) yields the 
hag rope ies of Mexican Fibre or Istle used in the United States and 
ue 
indebted to Mr. W. S. Booth, Belle Vue House, Meere. 
for the “following further account of this fibre, prepared from his 
observations while travelling in Mexico, a few months ago :— 
Mexican Fibre or Istle. 
This fibre is classed in En ngland not according to the plant from 
which it is extracted, but in reference solely to the district from which 
it is supposed to come. Thus Jaumave is understood to send long, 
clean, fine fibre, and oa its name to what is considered to be the best 
qu vality ; ; Tula, a shorter em coarser fibre; re lastly, eer? tee 
olour 
own 
Until lately little has been definitely known about the plants fro 
which this fibre is extracted, According to the Kew authorities the 
ied s 
as J 
the Lechuguilla (Agave heteracantha ). That known as Tula may be 
either from the Lechuguilla or the Palma loca (Agave striata), the 
inferior — coming from the latter plant. That khown as Mata- 
moras may be either from the Palma loca or from various forms of 
the Espadillo, or again from varieties of Yucca, known to the natives as 
palma baréta or palma real. These palms and — are often 
