July 29. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
281 
BRITISH FUNGI. 
( Continued from page 137.) 
In the higher, or most perfect groups, Fungi are un¬ 
doubtedly equally worthy of our notice, and form a delight¬ 
ful recreation to those who seek them amongst the dead and 
dying bodies of both animals and vegetables. They are 
seldom, in the higher groups, found growing as parasites on 
the living bodies of other plants. Sometimes, however, our 
noble forest-trees, either where they have been injured, or 
where, from disease, they have in certain parts decayed, are 
attacked by fungi of the higher groups ; for as soon as ever 
: decomposition takes place, then do fungi take possession 
and flourish, thereby proving themselves, as before-named, 
| the scavengers of nature. 
They are fungi which, in autumn, spring up and flourish 
upon the perishing remains of our gaudy summer flowers, 
thus converting the robes of one generation into manure to 
supply nourishment for a succeeding one of equal grandeur. 
Truly may we say “all the world’s a stage;” one generation, 
having performed its part, passes off but to make room for 
a succeeding one, which, in its turn, performs its allotted 
office, and then makes room for some other successor. 
The variety of forms, colours, and odours, are more 
numerous in tiiis class of plants than any we are acquainted 
with—one genus alone producing species corresponding to 
every hue, which adds considerably to the extreme beauty 
of this extensive order of plants ; and even the painter has 
but little fear of committing excess in profuse tints, which, 
with flowering plants, sometimes offends the eye as it 
swerves from truth; and those who minutely examine them 
will find then- veiled beauties rival, in symmetry and splen¬ 
dour, the tulip and lily, those gaudy favourites of the world 
in common. 
Again, there is something truly delightful in that varied 
fragrance which leads us to their hidden retreat. Linnoeus 
states, that the Poltjporus suaveolens produces a delightful 
odour which is much admired, and that the young men of 
Lapland carry it with them to render themselves more 
agreeable. The phosphorescent light which mitigates the 
gloominess of those regions in which fungi almost alone 
delight to dwell, are not wholly confined to the lower groups, 
for many recorded by travellers are equal and similar in 
their light to the moon’s pale beams ; others are equal to 
large fire-flies, as Agaricus olearius, Agaricus Gardneri , and 
several Agarics at the Swan River. 
Polgporus lucidus is a most elegant species, found in all 
parts of the world, like that of which Mr. Curtis describes a 
magnificent specimen found growing at Peckham. He 
scarcely knew, at first, whether he had found a natural or 
artificial production. 
Perhaps nothing concerning the growth of fungi has 
created so much interest as the formation of fairy-rings, 
caused, generally, by Agaricus oreadcs, coccineus, or personalus. 
In the first place, I must state, that the circular appearance 
in pastures where the grass is generally found darker, more 
luxuriant, and of a coarser nature, is not, as is generally 
supposed, the result of the fungi growing beneath it, but, 
rather that the decaying fungi of the preceding year 
manures the soil suitable to the grass, but in their growth 
rob it of that nutriment which is beneficial to themselves; 
therefore, it is well to remark, that the same circular 
appearance might be artificially produced by distributing 
manure in a circular direction; but, that in a majority of 
instances, the circular appearance observed in downs and 
pastures is caused by fungi, in my opinion, there is no doubt. 
It next remains to enquire why fungi should so generally 
produce this circular growth. 
First.—Fungi (unlike flowering plants) commence their 
growth by throwing out filamentous threads in a radiating 
direction, which finally cross each other, and terminate by 
] collecting and joining together at certain points, from which 
| the portion bearing the fructification springs. And these 
filamentous threads (which are generally formed in the 
dark, and are concealed under ground, passing unnoticed) 
are termed the Mycelium (spawn), and form the most 
important part of the plant (and in parasitic fungi the 
only injurious part). What is generally known as the mush¬ 
room, and is seen above ground, is not, as is generally 
supposed, the whole plant, but, rather, the inflorescence 
(only), or portion bearing the fructification which spring 
from the growing points of the Mycelium above-named ; so 
that it is probable the whole circle which forms a fairy-ring 
is numerous flower-stalks from the Mycelium or spawn of 
one plant concealed beneath the grass, and not a circular 
collection of many plants. 
Secondly.—Fungi never grow two successive years on the 
same ground; for the spores, falling on the interior of the 
circle, perish, owing to the ground being previously deprived 
of the nourishment suitable to them ; but those falling on 
the exterior of the circle, spring up and form the succeeding 
crop. On the other hand, the fungi, during their growth, 
derive nourishment from the decaying portions of other 
vegetables (or animals), but, in their decaying, supply 
nourishment for the grass the following year. 
Fungi are remarkable for the rapidity with which they 
grow; some attain perfection, and dissolve away in a few 
hours, and Phallus impudicus has been known to shoot up 
three inches in twenty-five minutes, and to attain its full 
elevation of six inches in an hour-and-half; and Bovista 
gigantea, in a single night, has increased from the size of a 
pea to that of a melon. I deem it unnecessary to dwell on 
the expansive power in the growth of fungi, as I consider 
this property of the vegetable kingdom generally, which 
hurls to the ground our noble works of art, is too well known 
to be for a moment doubted. 
Some fungi have the power to repair injuries they have 
received, and even to replace portions of then - bodies that 
have been accidentally removed, as Boletus, Polgporus, and 
Lycoperdons. 
Tan, although it kills some plants, has a quite opposite 
effect on fungi; in fact, one fungus originates in saw-pits. 
They are nearly the only plants that have not been found in 
a fossil state, which may be accounted for by tlieh - being 
amongst the simplest in structure of any existing plants, 
and, therefore, few would retain their forms long enough 
to be sealed up by successive deposits in the heart of 
nascent stone. Fungi secrete albumen, sugar, a fatty 
matter, and several acids, and by putrefaction of the fleshy 
substance is obtained fungin, which is very analogous to ani¬ 
mal substances, abounds in nitrogen, and forms the greater 
portion of all fungi (whether poisonous or otherwise); and, 
therefore, by removing the poisonous secretions, all fungi 
may be considered as the most nutritious and important, 
as an article of food, of all vegetables; and to the eatable 
ones especially my next paper will be devoted. 
F. Y. Bkocas. 
(To be continued.) 
SHORT NOTES. 
Mistletoe. —As much interest seems to be felt by many of 
your correspondents about this interesting plant, it may save- 
disappointment if I mention my experience. The plant 
requires a moist atmosphere ; hence it is that it flourishes 
so well in the western counties. If the climate is not 
naturally moist, it must be planted on trees in a damp, 
shady situation, near water, <fec. It will only germinate, and 
often not even so much as that in a sunny, any garden. 
Rooks. —I believe these birds are actuated by an in¬ 
stinctive political economy. It is, I think, an established 
fact, that many rookeries have been deserted owing to the 
gun not being freely used; in other words, the communities 
become so large that the feeding ground would not support 
them. They have, in such case, no alternative but emigra¬ 
tion, or rather dispersion. I think it will be found that they 
require abundance of food in the breeding time pretty close 
at hand ; at least, I have observed, this year, that the rooks 
of a rookery, about a mile-and-half from my house, never 
foraged for them young much more than a quarter of a mile 
from their nest trees, whilst, at other times of the year, I 
have them regularly enough in my meadow, and this is the 
nearest rookery to me.— Sigma. 
Substitute for Mai,ted Barley. — Robert Baker, of 
Writtle, Essex, a respectable agriculturist and land-valuer, 
has published a letter, in which he says :—“ I have at the 
present moment thirty hogsheads of beer brewed from beet, 
at a cost of 2-Jd. per gallon, quite equal in quality to that 
brewed from malt. It may be tasted upon the premises by 
any person desirous of availing himself of the opportunity. 
i 
