1905. Strachan.- Occurreyice of Peziza Adae in Ireland. 187 



the surface was covered with a dark-coloured substance, which 

 proved to consist of mortar which had cracked and dropped 

 from the walls, together with a little organic matter, probably 

 dust, carried in by the wind. It was observed that the more 

 irregular forms ot the fungus grew on this dark-coloured 

 earth, while the soil on which the more regular specimens 

 developed was almost purely white in colour. This arrange- 

 ment, however, may have been a mere chance. The fol- 

 lowing analyses give a good idea of the nature of the soils; 

 No. I is the white, and No. 2 the dark-coloured soil — 



No, I. No. 2. 



Moisture (at too"^ C), .... 30*1 per cent. 31-3 per ceut. 

 Calcium hydrate (containing traces 



of Mg., Na., and K.), . . . 137 lo-i 

 Calcium carbonate, .... 55-2 40-6 

 Ferric oxide and alumina, . . . -6 -5 



Organic matter, Trace 5*0 



Residue (chiefly sand), . . . . -4 ,, 12-5 



lOO" ICO' 



An average sample of soil taken outside a few inches under 

 the grass yielded 23-2 per cent, of moisture at loo^C. Some 

 of the black organic matter in No. 2 appeared to consist of 

 soot. The comparatively greater percentage of moisture in 

 the soil from the outhouse over that taken from the normal 

 earth is accounted for by the presence of an open water-drain 

 which runs close to the wall and partly under the floor of the 

 outhouse ; the exhaust from a steam-pipe also drips against 

 the side of the house. 



In conclusion, the above considerations are submitted to 

 the botanist in the hope that they may be of some slight 

 value in that the above conditions represerit very favourable 

 circumstances for the growth of this partictilar species of 

 fungus. By imitating the conditions artificially, I was 

 successful in keeping a number growing for eight days in the 

 laboratory. 



Ballyclare, Co. Antrim. 



A 2 



