REV. E. N\ BLOOMFIELD OS SUFFOLK FUNGI. 247 
Although the Fungi are of small economic importance as 
articles of food, yet on the other hand they are often very 
destructive to our timber, corn crops, and garden produce, 
&c. The only species of general consumption used in this 
country as a general article of diet are the Common and 
Horse Mushrooms, Agaricus campestris and arvensis, which 
are both wholesome and much esteemed : these are very nearly 
allied, and are not very generally distinguished. The Morel 
and Truffle are for the most part scarce in this country, 
though well known as choice articles of food ; many other 
species are esteemed on the Continent, such as the Fairy-ring 
Champignon, the Cantharelle, &c., but are very seldom even 
tasted in this country except by Fungus eaters. 
As is well known many species are very poisonous, even 
a small piece producing very severe illness or even death. 
Some of the larger species are very destructive to timber, 
while many of the small kinds greatly injure our crops, such 
as the Potato Blight, the Corn Mildew, Hop Mildew, Smut 
and Bunt in corn, &c. It was at one time supposed that the 
larger Fungi such as Agarics, Polypori, &c., only attacked 
previously diseased stems of trees; but though the spores 
may only gain access through injuries or decay, the mycelium 
spreads into the living tissue and thus kills the surrounding 
healthy part, and even the whole tree. 
Another point worth mention is the very restricted nature 
of the matrix on which some alone will grow. Thus Agaricus 
mucidus only grows on beech, Polyporus betulinus on birch. 
Polyporus dryadeus on Oak, Boletus laricinus under Larch trees; 
while many others show a marked preference for one particular 
species of tree, as P. squamosus for Ash, P. giganteus for Beech, 
P. sulphureus and Fistulina hcpatica for Oak, while others 
are not at all particular, but attack many species of trees. 
The same is true of the smaller Fungi. 
The North-Eastern part of the County, like the adjacent 
portion of Norfolk, is noted among mycologists for the very 
rare Trichogastres — Batarrhea and species of Geastcr, which 
have occurred there and have been recorded by Messrs. 
Woodward, Sowerby, &c. 
