432 
A Treatise on 
CHAP. IX. 
Of Subjlances growing upon Plants . 
Artic. I. 0/ Agarick. 
A G AR 1 CUM and Agaricus , Off. *Ay*pxoir 9 
Grcecor. Agaricus five Fungus Laricis , C. B. P . 
375. Agarick is a fungous Subftance, formed into 
roundifh, angular, uneven Lumps, fometimes fmall- 
er, fometimes greater, being as big as a Man’s Fill 
or Head, very light, of a white Colour like Snow, 
crumbling into Powder when rubbed betwixt the 
Fingers, interwoven with a few Fibres, and covered 
with a callous, gray, reddifh Bark. [The lower 
Part of which is pierced fometimes with large and 
fometimes with fmall Perforations, wherein are 
found flicking fome extremely minute Seeds.] Its 
Tafte at fir ft is fweetifh, foon after bitter, acrid, 
and naufeous, with a certain gentle Aftringency. It 
grows upon the Trunks of Larch-trees, feldom 
upon their Branches. Herman obferves, that thefe 
Trees, when Agarick grows upon them, no longer 
yield Turpentine. 
It is cholen white, light, and friable. When 
it is heavy, blackifh, and lefs friable, it is rejedted. 
That is likewife difapproved which grows next the 
Stump of the Tree, becaufe it contracts a Blacknefs 
from the Bark ; and befides is commonly moifter, 
and confequently lefs friable. The Bark alfo is 
thrown away as ufelefs or hurtful. 
Biofcorides and Pliny diftinguifh two Sorts of A- 
garick, (viz.) the Male and Female. The Male is 
round and every where fimilar, and according to 
Pliny more crifped and bitter. The Female has 
ftreight Veins within like the Teeth of Combs, and 
1 making 
