1910.] Poisonous Varieties of Fungi. 



387 



figures, an inspection of the Seed Company's crops before 

 harvest will convince the most sceptical of the unqualified 

 success of Dr. Nilsson's method of improvement. 



The results described have been obtained by selection only, 

 but it must not be assumed that cross-breeding and the appli- 

 cation of Mendel's law have been neglected at Svalof. Cross- 

 breeding has been practised for ten years or more, and good 

 results are expected from Mendelism, but the improved crops 

 which have reduced Sweden's imports of wheat and increased 

 the value of land in southern Sweden were put upon the 

 market before Mendel's law had been rediscovered. A dis- 

 cussion of the work at Svalof on cross-breeding is beyond the 

 scope of this paper. 



The writer desires to express his gratitude to Dr. Nilsson 

 and his colleagues, and to the manager of the Seed Company, 

 for much information and for generous contributions of time 

 and trouble. 



POISONOUS VARIETIES OF FUNGI.* 

 Fly Agaric (Amanita mitscaria). (Fig. 21.) 

 This is one of the most brilliantly coloured and generally 

 distributed of British fungi. Cap globose when young, 

 gradually expanding and becoming quite flat when fully 

 grown, 4 to 7 in. across, scarlet, with white patches. Stem 

 4 to 7 in. high, white, swollen below, and with a ring or frill 

 near the top. 



It occurs in woods, especially under birches and firs, or 

 amongst bracken, and is very poisonous. The popular name, 

 Fly Agaric, is derived from the fact that a decoction of the 

 fungus was at one time used as a fly poison. 



Shield Agaric (Lepiota clypeolaria). (Fig. 22.) 

 The cap is at first cylindrical, smooth, brown, gradually 

 expanding until flat, when every part of the surface except the 

 central boss becomes broken up into small scales. The cap is- 

 2 to 3 J in. across ; gills white, stem covered with small, spread- 

 ing scales below the ring. 



* The previous numbers of this series of coloured plates and descriptions have 

 .appeared in the Journal as follows: — Nos. 1-3, February, 1910; Nos. 4-6, 

 . March, 1910 ; No. 7, February, 1909; Nos. 8-10, April, 1910; Nos. 11-13, 

 I May, 1910; Nos. 14-16, June, 1910 ; No. 17, September, 1908; Nos. 18-19, 

 jjuly, 1910 ; No. 20, November, 1908. 



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