THE PRINCIPLES OF BOTANY. 439 
as though broken up into irregular masses, lines, or patches 
of green. 
Six of the most perfect rings in the meadow may he shortly 
described as follows : 
1. A double ring 27 feet diameter ; the roots of the 
decaying grasses and the surrounding mould being highly 
charged with the Mycelium of Agaricus gambosus, from 
which in May of last year we had several meals of delicious 
mushrooms. 
2. A double ring, 15 feet 6 inches diameter. In this, too, 
the outer ring is charged with Mycelium ; in this case of the 
Ag. oreades from which last September we enjoyed the 
" champignons.” 
From both these we expect crops of fungi this year, though 
they will be late on account of the backward season. But it 
should be observed that the Mycelium does not always pro- 
duce fungi. These latter, like fruits, depend on season. 
3. A single ring, 18 feet diameter. This was partially 
occupied by Ag. personatus three years since. 
4. A single ring, 21 feet diameter. 
5. The like, 15 feet diameter. 
6. The like, 15 feet 6 inches in diameter. 
Of these the three last have not been observed to contain 
fungi, nor can any Mycelium be traced in the soil about or 
near the circles. 
The two first forms will be best understood from the fol- 
lowing diagrams : 
Fig. 1. 
Fig. 1. Fairy ring. 
a. Brown grass occupied by fungi. 
b. Greener grass of the interior ring. 
