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as orchard and forest trees, are liable to be infected by this Fungus, 
which should be burned whenever found, and the infection of other 
trees prevented by digging a trench one foot deep around the 
diseased tree. 
The Beech-tuft (Agaricus mucidus, Pages 14 and 15) is a very 
handsome Fungus, which grows parasitically on old beech trees. 
It is usually ivory white in colour, almost translucent, and grows in 
clusters on the bark of the affected tree. The cap is covered by a 
sticky slime. This Toadstool is common wherever beech trees exist 
in any number, and has been proved by experiment to enter the tree 
by the germination of its spores on a wound. It spite of its slimy 
appearance it is delicious when properly cooked. 
The Lurid Tricholome (Agaricus luridus, Page 16) is another 
white spored Toadstool, growing, usually in clusters, among dead 
leaves in Autumn. It lacks the ring round the stem which most of 
the Fungi so far described possess. The chief distinctive point 
about it is its meal-like smell. 
The Muscat (Agaricus albellus, Page 17) is a handsome white or 
greyish Fungus, usually found growing erect and alone. More 
rarely, several smaller specimens are found together. Unlike the 
greater number of Toadstools it is most abundant in early spring. 
The Soap-scented Tricholome (Agaricus saponaceus, Page 18) 
has also white gills and spores. Its cap is olive brown in colour, and it 
has a thick curved stem. When broken the flesh becomes reddish 
and has a pronounced soap-like smell. 
Agaricus grammopodius (Page 19) is a common inhabitant of 
pastures and woods in Autumn. It often grows in rings and is of a 
brownish colour when moist, but becomes lighter when dry. It is 
soft and brittle, and though moist in wet weather, never becomes 
slimy. 
The Rooting-shank (Agaricus radicatus, Page 20) is peculiar in 
possessing a polished twisted stem, which is continued into the 
ground as a tail-like root tapering to a point. It usually grows 
singly, a group of three, such as that shown in the photograph, being 
less often seen. 
The Leaf-bane (Agaricus dryophilus, Page si) is closely allied to 
the Toadstool last described. It is usually of a livid brown colour, 
and is very common in woods and hedgerows, and among dead 
leaves, at almost all seasons except mid winter. Its stalk is hollow 
and extends some distance into the soil. 
The Oyster of the Woods (Agaricuj ostreatus) is seen on Page 
2a. It is a large and beautiful F ungus growing in clusters on the trunks 
of trees. The colour of the cap is ash-grey, or blue-grey, but often 
the lower members of the cluster look as if they were covered with 
hoar-frost. This is due to the spores, which have fallen from those 
above. As this Toadstool always grows on trees, a central stalk is 
not needed. A lateral stem only is provided, which is short and 
thick, and firmly attaches the Fungus to the tree on which it grows. 
The Oyster of the Woods is esculent, but apt to be tough unless 
carefully cooked. 
All the Toadstools so far described have white spores, but in the 
Prickly-Cap (Agaricus squarrosus, Page 23) we see a variety with 
yellowish brown spores. In the photo a group of several not-yet- 
fully-expanded specimens are shown protruding from a hollow in 
the beech tree, on which plant parasitically lives. The Fungus is of 
