Oct. 29,1917 
Fungus Fairy Rings 
227 
for two A. tabularis rings in May, 1915. These samples were taken in 
3-inch sections. No differences were noted in the first 3 inches. In the 
second 3 inches the water content in zone 3 (fig. 3) was greatly reduced 
in the case of ring B, while in the second 6 inches no water at all was 
available in the ring, though the soil outside of the ring still contained 
available moisture. In Table XVIII the moisture content above or 
below the wilting point in three rings of A . tabularis on three different 
dates in 1915 is shown. While there was only a small amount of avail¬ 
able water outside on June 16, there was no available water in the ring. 
On June 26 a similar condition obtained in the ring, while by July 13 the 
water content both inside and outside the ring had been reduced to below 
the wilting point. These differences are not so marked in the second 
foot. The year 1916 was a dry year and the fungi did not fruit. In 
figure 13 is shown a bisect in which the place of taking samples is shown. 
Samples take from four different Agaricus rings in 1916 are shown in 
Table XIX. In all cases the water content was low, the vegetation being 
in a dormant condition except outside the ring. During a period of 
heavy rain the samples at 2, 3, and 4 feet would remain dry, while 
others would readily become moist. 
Table; XVIII .—Moisture content above or below the wilting coefficient in three Agaricus 
tabularis rings in 1915, Akron , Colo. 
Depth. 
Ring 
No. 
June 16. 
June 26. 
July 13. 
Outside, 
zone 5. 
Bare 
area, 
zone 3. 
Inner 
stimu¬ 
lated, 
zone 2. 
Out¬ 
side, 
zone 5. 
Bare 
area, 
zone 3. 
Inner 
stimu¬ 
lated, 
zone 2. 
Out¬ 
side, 
zone 5. 
Bare 
area, 
zone 3. 
Inner 
stimu¬ 
lated, 
zone 2. 
First foot.... 
1 
+ 9-3 
+0. 2 
+ 6.7 
+ 1.8 
-I. 7 
+ 1. 0 
+0. I 
-2. 3 
-2. 9 
Do. 
2 
+ 11. 4 
— 2. I 
+ 10. 4 
+ 3 -o 
-1.8 
-I. 4 
— 2. 1 
—4. 2 
-2.8 
Do. 
3 
+ 6. 7 
-2.Q 
+ .1 
+2. 5 
“ 3 - 5 
-2. 4 
-2. 5 
-2. 7 
-3.9 
Mean.. 
+ 9 - 1 
— i. 6 
+ 5-7 
+2. 4 
-2.3 
“ -9 
- 1 * 5 
- 3 - 1 
- 3-2 
Second foot.. 
1 
+10. 4 
+6.8 
+ 5.8 
+ 7.8 
+ 1. 4 
+2.8 
+4. 4 
+ 1. 6 
“ 3 - 7 
Do. 
2 
+ 9. 2 
+ 7.4 
+ 9. 0 
+8.6 
+2. 0 
+ 1.8 
+ 3 - 5 
-2.3 
+2. 7 
Do. 
3 
+ 8.5 
“ 3 -o 
+ 5-4 
+6. 1 
-2.8 
+ • 4 
+2- 5 
-1. 4 
-1.4 
Mean.. 
+ 9-4 
+ 3 - 7 
+ 6.7 
+ 7 * 5 
+ • 2 
+ *■ 7 
+ 3 - 5 
- -7 
-2. 4 
Third foot... 
1 
+ 9-5 
+4. 8 
+ 5-9 
+ 7-4 
+2. 9 
+ 3-6 
+4* 2 
+ 1. 6 
—2. 1 
Do. 
2 
+ 9. 2 
+ 3 * 5 
- • 7 
+8. 2 
+2. 9 
+ .6 
+6. 1 
+ .6 
+ 3 - 5 
Do. 
3 
+ 9 * 5 
-4. 1 
+ 4.3 
+8.6 
-2. 3 
+4. 0 
+6.5 
+ *3 
+ i -3 
Mean.. 
+ 9. 4 
+ 1. 4 
+ 3- 2 
+8.1 
+ 1. 2 
+2. 7 
+ 5 - ^ 
+ -8 
+ • 9 
In the case of lings of Calvatia cyathiformis the effect of stimulated 
growth is the same as in the case of Agaricus tabularis. The mycelium 
does not become dense enough to interfere with water penetration, and 
after each rain the soil is again moistened. Table XX indicates clearly 
