322 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ October 11, 13?3. 
metrical in outline. It also is a valuable Apple, and both of them may, 
without hesitation, be included in the same collection. 
EXHIBITION ROSES. 
In the Journal for September 20th a correspondent writes, “ That with 
a view to ascertain what are considered by the best growers to be the 
most reliable Dahlias for exhibition, I took down the names of the flowers 
shown at the recent Exhibition of the National Dahlia Society.” It 
appears to me that the above is a most sensible and practical course to 
adopt to attain the end in view, and I would certainly recommend its 
adoption to the National Rose Society. Suppose every Rose shown at 
Kensington and the two other shows held by the Society to be noted and 
the results tabulated, we should get a record that would be more valuable 
than even the catalogue published by the Society; and as a help to begin¬ 
ners in enabling them to avoid purchasing Roses which never appear at a 
show, although having a large E before their names in the nurserymen’s 
catalogues, it would be of much service. 
I am aware that some excellent show Roses are entirely absent in 
exceptional years from the show tables, but to remedy this I would 
suggest that the record extend over three years, so as to give the dry- 
weather Roses a chance. If this were done I venture to predict that some 
quite unexpected results would follow; and whilst many an impostor 
would be found out, many a good, honest, and reliable Rose at present 
not sufficiently appreciated would receive its due share of honour.— 
Aspiko. 
[We understand that the compiler of the list of Dahlias has been for 
some time engaged upon a similar list of Roses shown at the principal 
exhibitions, so that “ Aspiro's ” desire will probably be shortly gratified.] 
THE “LOWER ORDERS'’ OF FUNGI. 
[A paper read by Hr. Worthington G. Smith before the annual Cryptogamie Heeting of 
the Essex Field Club, September 29tli.] 
A considerable number of the nobler Fungi grow amongst grass in 
open, upland, breezy plains and pastures. Some grow in delightful glades, 
some by pleasant grassy roadsides, and others in well-kept gardens and 
greenhouses. These Fungi belong to the “ upper orders,” or the “ upper 
ten thousand ” amongst Fungi. I now propose to say a few words on the 
more numerous “lower orders” of Fungi—the outcasts and parasites of 
fungoid “society”—the “lower” Funguses with perverted, depraved, and 
seemingly unnatural tastes—the hangers-on, the inebriate, the unclean, the 
dwellers in nasty places, and those which live parasitically upon each other. 
The student who selects the “ lower orders” of Fungi for study must be 
prepared for a certain amount of scoffing and deiision from outsiders. He 
must not be surprised if he hears sarcastic remarks, and he must even be at 
times prepared for a little self-defence. 
I will notice some of the Fungi with depraved tastes first. One of these 
is Agaricus nauseosus, found by Fries growing on the carcase of a defunct 
wolf. Another is the group of Agaricus ostreatus, found by Mr. Plough- 
wright vegetating on the body of a stranded whale at King’s Lynn. It 
was a curious coincidence that the “ Oyster Agaric ” should fix itself on a 
dead marine monster. A very degenerate Fungus, if indeed it be one, is 
the resident in the human stomach, named Sarcina ventriculi. Still viler 
are the Fungi which fix on the human head and cause ringworm, or on 
the foot and cause the “Fungus foot” of India. Mr. Berkeley tells us 
that it is no uncommon thing to find a somewhat large Fungus named 
Coprinus on the dressings of amputated limbs in hospitals. This is a horrible 
instance of a Fungus, whose natural pabulum is the juice of manure, turning 
carnivorous and living on the juices of the human body as found on the 
bandages of wounds. Another objectionable parasite is the Fungus of the 
salmon disease, named Saprolegnia ferax. When this low parasite cannot 
find noble salmon to prey upon it pays its unwelcome attentions to our com¬ 
mon house flies, and fixes them to our window panes in autumn. Some 
professors insist that this parasite, like Sarcina, is an Alga, whilst other pro¬ 
fessors insist upon its being a Fungus, and the younger the professor happens 
to be the more furiously he will fight for his favourite name. Some older 
men, who believe with Mr. Huxley that there is no distinct line of demarca¬ 
tion even between the animal and vegetable kingdoms, consider it just 
possible that there may be no hard-and-fast line between a Fungus and an 
Alga, and that Saprolegnia may possibly occupy the debateable ground. 
Most people will agree with me when I say that the Fungus named 
Isaria arachnophila, which lives on dead spiders, is possessed of a corrupt 
and vitiated taste. The name means, I suppose, “ the Spider-loving Isaria,” 
but this can hardly be from the afflicted spiders’ point of view. One family 
of social ants, the Mermecidm, is preyed upon by an unsocial Fungus, 
sarcastically named Torrubia myrmecophila. Wasps, even in this country, 
are sometimes attacked whilst still alive by the Isaria condition of the Fungus 
named Torrubia sphterocephala,—this means the “ Round-headed Torrubia,” 
or, as an anthropologist would say, the “ brachykepbalic.” Some allied 
Fungi descend to still lower depths, for the pretty little sluggish unob¬ 
trusive “ American blight ” insect is often preyed upon by Microcera 
coccophila, or the “ Coccus Lover.” Even larvae and pupae are not safe, 
for three species of Fungi named Torrubia entomorrhiza, T. militaris, and 
T. gracilis attack these stages of a poor moth’s life. The Chinese have a 
species of Torrubia peculiar to their own country which grows on large 
fat pupae. Not to be behind the Fungus in “ botanical enterprise,” the 
Chinese carefully collect the Fungi together with the attached pupae, and 
after tying them in neat bundles with silken threads sell them in their 
markets like small bundles of Asparagus, as choice ingredients for celestial 
soups and for stuffing turkeys. As Funguses and turkeys’ livers go to 
make the delicious Strasbourg pie, it may reasonably be assumed that the 
Chinese dish is one of the first order. This very incomplete list of insect, 
caterpillar, and chrysalis-loving Fungi might be greatly extended, particularly 
if a lot of “ friends from a distance ” were included, but I have mentioned a 
sufficient number to show how some of the “ lower orders ” of Fungi eke 
out a precarious existence. 
One British Fungus grows upon leather, but whether it is more common 
at Northampton than elsewhere I have not yet heard. It does not luxuriate in 
large curriers’ shops, or in stylish boot and shoe establishments, for the Fungus 
belongs to a low order. Most of the members of its family luxuriate on dung¬ 
hills, but this one sticks to leather. I have once or twice seen it on the 
rotten cast-off shoes of Epping Forest gipsies. A few years ago I accidentally 
met a grave dignitary of the Church hurrying to the Loughton railway 
station with a large rotten boot depending from each hand and a bundle of 
putrid rags under his arm. He had secured these treasures from a ditch side, 
and boys were making humorous remarks about the clergyman’s luggage. It 
was not necessary for me to ask my friend what he had got, for my fungo- 
logical eye detected a rich harvest of the rare Ascobolus saccharinus (a 
sweet thing in Ascoboli) on both boots and rags. Fungologists shouldalways 
lovingly examine any old boots or rags, “ ditch delivered of a drab,” that they 
may meet with in their sylvan rambles. Old rags, boots, sacking, hampers, 
rotten matting, flannel, and carpeting are often prolific with cohorts of the 
“lower orders” of Fungi. Epping Forest was at one time rich in gipsies 
(properly called vagrants), but as these people gradually get “ moved on ” by 
the active verderers, old boots, horse-collars, and rags may gradually get 
thinned out, and Ascobolus saccharinus may have a bad time of it. Still, if 
new railways are made, and taverns, steam roundabouts, knock-’em-downs, 
and Aunt Sallies are erected by authority near every station, there will probably 
still be found plenty of old shoes, dirty rags, basketwork, and rubbish for 
the Fungus to fix on. On these little-esteemed objects the fungologist may 
find, if fortunate, the delicate Coprinus domesticus, Macrosporium concinnum, 
Aspergillus roseus, Raphalomyces pallidus, Onygena piligena, Ailographum 
maculare, Thamnomyces hippotrichioides, and many other Fungi. 
Old rope is often a treasure to a fungologist, therefore swings, such as 
prevail at Chingford, should not be too much discouraged. I have several 
times found Perisporium vulgare on pieces of decaying rope near Loughton, 
but Nectria funicola has eluded me from paucity of old rope. Everyone who 
has been Chingford way, especially after a bank holiday, a balloon ascent, 
fireworks, crackers, and scratch-backs, must have noticed the quantity of 
well-picked knuckle and shank bones thrown about by excursionists, who 
out of wise economy bring their own provisions. It is no good to look for 
Fungi on examples too fresh from the holiday makers’ teeth, but I once saw 
the rare Onygena apus growing on an old weather-beaten Essex bone. If 
one is favoured by fortune a dead horse or a dead donkey may still be lighted 
on in the Forest, though I am bound to confess that these objects are less 
common now than before the city conservators commenced draining and 
beautifying the glades. Should an old defunct example be found let the 
hoofs be carefully examined, and the enterprising fungologist may be equally 
fortunate with myself and light on Onygena equina. 
Before dismissing the unpleasant Fungi I must advert to such as derive 
their nourishment from manure-heaps and dung. Nearly all the members of 
some genera of Fungi literally revel in manure. Coprinus, Bolbitius, 
Ascobolus, and Pilobolus are notable examples. The two latter delight in the 
pabulum afforded by manure, and the members of the latter genus, as the 
name Pilobolus indicates, throw off their hats with rapture at maturity. It 
is essential for a good knowledge of fungology that the dung of different 
animals should be conscientiously examined. No less than twelve lovely 
species of Ascobolus grow on cow dung. Some are peculiar to this material, 
others are less particular, and sometimes roam to dung of the horse, deer, 
sheep, or rabbit; two beautiful Pezizas also grow on cow dung. Leaving 
the interesting dung-borne genus Ascobolus, or “ ascus,” or “ sack-thrower,” 
in reference to the Fungus at maturity discharging into the air innumerable 
transparent bladders or sacks full of spores or seeds, I may refer to Poronia 
punctata, which grows equally well on horse and cow dung, to (Edocepha- 
lum lseticolor on sheep’s dung, to Ascophora elegans on fowls’ dung, to 
Botrytis Jonesii (poor Jones !) on the dung of dogs and rabbits, and Asper¬ 
gillus dubius on rabbits’ dung. The two vilest Fungi are Mucor caninus, 
found on the dung of dogs (and, strange to say, cats), and the execrable 
Isaria felina, found solely on the dung of cats. Dr. Cooke was the first in 
his self-sacrificing researches to add this treasure to the British flora, and I 
well remember being present at a meeting of a London amateur scientific 
society when this valued possession was tenderly taken from a tin sandwich 
box for exhibition, to the delight and admiration of the assembled botanists. 
The choice specimen here referred to was lent to me, with many admonitions 
for its safe custody, that I might make a water-colour painting of the whole 
affair. I felt bound in honour to make this painting, although it was done 
at a little personal inconvenience ; but I was ultimately repaid, for the 
officers of the British Museum bought the drawing for their collection of 
rare and beautiful objects at South Kensington. 
There is, as we all know, a time for everything, and the best time for 
looking for and gathering Isaria felina is before people are up in the morn¬ 
ing, or in the dusk of evening when but few people are about, for it must 
always be remembered that common people do not enter into the feelings 
and aspirations of fungologists devoted to the “lower orders.” If the 
Fungus is sought for in the locality whence Dr. Cooke’s example was 
derived a few lessons in the art of self-defence before going on the excursion 
may prove useful. 
Leaving these Fungi, a few words may be said about some of the peculiar 
ones. Dactylium oogenum grows only inside eggs, Dactylium roseum inside 
nuts, Coprinus radians grows on scullery walls and ceilings, Ascophora 
phycomyces on greasy walls, Sporotrichum fenestrale on window glass, a 
large number grow on our wall papers, whether varnished or unvarnished. 
A Peziza named P. Pigottii is said to grow on ceilings, and other species 
grow in cisterns and water-butts. I once found a novelty in my own 
cistern, and as I could not identify it (and disliking all new species) I sent 
it on to Mr. Berkeley for a name. By a curious mistake Mr. Berkeley 
thought the prodigy had been sent by his friend Dr. Bull of Hereford, so 
he forthwith published it under the name of Peziza Bullii, with the laconic 
addendum of “ Dr. Bull—in a water-butt.” This took Dr. Bull by surprise 
and amused me, for I certainly had no wish for any nasty watery Fungus to 
be termed Peziza Smithii, with the humorous addendum of “ Mr. Smith—in a 
water-butt.” 
Cannibalism is very common in Fungi. Amongst my drawings in the 
British Museum is one representing a group of Agaricus lignatilis growing 
