468 yearbooe: of the depaktmext of agriculture. 



resemblance to toadstools, but the botanical distinctions are micro- 

 scopic rather than gross and need not be described here. 



The morels appear toward the end of spring or early in summer iu 

 grass under or near trees, even in rather thicklj- settled regions, but 

 are more abundant in places which have been burned over. They 

 have a peculiar honeycombed upper portion, which is at first cream- 

 colored, but becomes darker yellow. The stalk is whiter, and usually 

 when fresh is covered with fine granulations. In the United States there 

 are several species of morel, differing in the shape of the honeycombed 

 part and in certain microscopic details, but from the figure the genus 

 can be recognized, and all the species are safe. One should, however, 

 glance at the section of a morel shown on PI, XXIX, 2h, and notice 

 that the ux)per honeycombed part is continued directly into the stalk, 

 and is not^ like a cap, attached at the upper part, with the margins 

 free and bending away from the stalk. 



The most ex]3ensive and most highly prized of all fungi are the 

 truffles, which grow buried in the soil and in general appearance 

 resemble small potatoes. The best truifies are black and have a 

 warted surface. Some species have a strong odor of garlic; others a 

 I)eculiar delicate i)erfume which can not be described. Although in 

 this country we have a few species related botanically to the truffles of 

 Europe, no one has as jet discovered here the valuable species of 

 France and Italy, which are the only truffles found in our markets; 

 but it is not impossible that at some future day the same or equally 

 good specimens may be found in hilly regions where oaks occur on 

 XDoor calcareous soils. 



PUFFBALLS. 



By far the greater part of our edible and poisonous fungi belong to 

 the Hymenomycetes, or toadstool family; but there are a few others 

 which must be mentioned briefly. The puffballs, belonging to the 

 family Gasteromycetes, are familiar to almost everyone, and grow 

 usually, but not always, on the ground in lawns, cultivated ijlaces, 

 and woods, with a preference for thin and sandy soils, but they are, 

 not limited to such localities. With few exceptions, our common; 

 native species have no stalk, but lie on the ground or partly buried in 

 the ground, looking like slighth^ flattened balls. If they are cut in 

 two, as on PI. XXX, h, one sees in their younger condition a homogene- 

 ous interior substance surrounded b}' an external wrapper com]30sedj 

 of two distinct layers. The outer layer often bears spines or papillae,? 

 which add much to the beauty of the i^uffballs. AVhen mature the] 

 interior portion, or a i)art of it, is changed into a mass of yellow- 

 brown or purj)le pov/dery spores, with Avhich are entangled numor-j 

 ous hairlike threads. Finally', the outer membrane breaks awaj^ ia; 

 imtches, the inner membrane is ruptured irregularly, or occasionally,] 

 a regular mouth is formed, and the spores are discharged. 



