538 Fairy Rings and their Eradication. [dec. 



potent, in Melbourne and its suburbs at least, than the fairy- 

 ring' puff-ball, Lycoferdon polymorfihum, Vitt. For ten years or 

 more the fungus has been defying the efforts of the caretakers 

 of the Melbourne bowling greens to eradicate it, and until 

 recently nothing short of digging out the affected areas was 

 regarded as satisfactory. Such a method, though practicable 

 where the rings are few and small, is out of the question when 

 large and numerous, owing to the difficulty of securing a level 

 surface after the work, and in a green so treated the remedy- 

 would probably be worse than the disease. Within the last 

 two years, however, a cheap and effective method of eradica- 

 tion has been found, so that the fairy ring ceases to occupy 

 the position of a dangerous enemy, and may be regarded as 

 a parasite easily destroyed. 



It may be mentioned that the name of " Fairy Ring " 

 has been given on account of the curious effect of the fungus 

 upon the grass where it is found. The spawn of the fungus 

 draws its nourishment from the roots of the grass, and spreads 

 always in an outward direction to all points of the compass, 

 so that shortly after a green has been infected and during the 

 latter part of summer a number of darker coloured, narrow 

 circular bands or rings may be seen, less than a foot wide, 

 but with a diameter of a few or several feet. In these rings 

 the grass is at first so much deeper in colour than the rest that 

 they are easily seen from a considerable distance. It used 

 to be said that this richer green was due to the dancing of 

 fairies ; hence the name fairy rings. Soon, however, a change 

 for the worse is observed ; the grass in the ring becomes thin, 

 though still retaining its deeper hue ; much of it dies away, 

 resulting in an uneven surface, and a great number of small 

 puff-balls are formed. If the turf is cut and rolled every day 

 these puff-balls often escape notice, since in such cases they 

 scarcely exceed the size of a pea ; but, growing unchecked, 

 they may reach a diameter of an inch or more, and may be 

 nearly 2 in. high. 



About ten years ago Mr. McAlpine, Vegetable Pathologist 

 of Victoria, made some experiments with various fungicides, 

 and it appeared that a solution of sulphate of iron might 

 overcome the disease, but the experiments were not con- 

 ducted long enough to be conclusive. In April, 1905, Mr. 



