370 
THE PRINCIPLES OE BOTANY. 
“ On the foregoing analyses,” the Professor remarks, “ I 
think we may clearly explain the whole growth of the fairy 
rings. A fungus is developed on a single spot of ground, 
sheds its seed, and dies. On the spot where it grew it leaves 
a valuable manuring of phosphoric acid and alkalies, some 
magnesia, and a little sulphate of lime. Another fungus 
might undoubtedly grow on the same spot again, but on the 
death of the first the ground becomes occupied by a vigorous 
crop of grass, rising like a phoenix on the ashes of its pre- 
decessor. 
“ If the grass shared the fate of the agaric, withering and 
dying on the land, its growth might continue, the circle 
might increase and remain, as before supposed, in the shape 
of a disc ; but in practice this does not occur — the grass is 
either eaten off by cattle or taken away in the form of hay, 
and with it is removed the greater part of the inorganic 
materials which the fungus had collected.” 
Berkeley, in his f Outlines of British Fungology/ has 
adopted somewhat the same views, for, in speaking of fairy 
rings, he says : “ These rings are sometimes of very ancient 
date, and attain enormous dimensions,* so as to be distinctly 
visible on a hill-side from a considerable distance. It is 
believed that they originate from a single fungus, whose 
growth renders the soil immediately beneath unfit for its 
reproduction. The spawn, however, spreads all round, and 
in the second year produces a crop whose spawn spreads 
again, the soil behind forbidding its return in that direction. 
Thus the circle is continually increased, and extends indefi- 
nitely till some cause intervenes to destroy it. If the spawn 
did not spread on all sides at first, an arc of a circle only is 
produced. The manure arising from the dead fungi of the 
former years makes the grass peculiarly vigorous around, so 
as to render the circle visible even when there is no external 
appearance of the fungus, and the contrast is often the 
stronger from that behind being killed by the old spawn. 
This mode of growth is far more common than is supposed, 
and may be observed constantly in our woods, where the 
spawn can spread only in the soil or amongst the leaves and 
decaying fragments which cover it.” — P. 41. 
Now, it may be quite true that the authors quoted have 
accounted for some of the observed facts, yet, as remarked 
by my acute friend Mr. Edwin Lees, “ Even Mr. Berkeley 
takes the supposition about the single fungus forming 
the circle for granted, without due examination himself, and 
* Wc have seen some on Salisbury Plain nearly 30 yards in diameter. — 
J. B. 
