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other side. These rings are formed by various species of mushrooms, and also by some of the lycoperdons, or puff-balls; but the cause of the circular formation has not been satisfactorily explained. It would seem that the ground which has produced one crop of fungi is not immediately fit for the production of another, and thus the annual sowing is outwards. It also appears that the decayed matter of the fungi is favourable to the grass by which it is succeeded.

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The TRUFFLE Tuber cibarium-is found growing in clusters some inches under the surface of the ground, in a soil which is composed of clay and sand. It is nearly spherical, and without any visible root; of a dark colour, approaching to black, and studded over with pyramidal tubercles.

The

internal part is firm, and grained with serpentine lines; its colour is white when young, but becomes black from age. Naturalists, who have examined its structure with microscopic attention, affirm that minute oval capsules, each containing from three to four seeds, are embedded in its substance. Truffles are natives of the woods both of Scotland and England; but they are not produced in the same

abundance, nor do they attain to equal perfection,
with those which grow in some parts of the Con-
tinent, and especially in Italy. When of more than
three or four ounces in weight, they are considered
large, for the production of this country; but it is
said that, in Italy, some are occasionally found
weighing from eight to fourteen pounds.

Since there is no appearance to indicate the par-
ticular spot where the truffles lie concealed, man
calls the sagacious dog to assist him in his search
after these subterraneous delicacies. With much
pains this animal has been trained to discover them
by the scent if successful, he barks and scratches
the ground-when the gatherer follows and digs
up the object of his pursuit.

Truffles are used, like mushrooms, as an ingredient in certain high-seasoned dishes. They are es teemed the best of the fungi, but are confined in their locality, and have not hitherto been distributed by artificial culture.

They are common on the downs of Wiltshire,
Hampshire, and Kent.

The MOREL-Phallus esculentus-is a spheroid; hollow within, reticulated with irregular sinuses on the surface, and of a yellowish colour, standing on a smooth white stalk, the whole rising to the height of about four inches. The substance, when recent, is wax-like and friable. It is used in the same manner as truffles; and, when gathered dry, will keep for several months. The morel is a native of Britain, growing in damp woods and moist pastures, and coming to perfection in May or June. Gleditsch mentions, that in some woods in Germany this fungus had been found in the greatest perfection in those parts where charcoal had been made. Acting upon this hint, the morel gatherers were accustomed

to make fires in certain spots in the thicket; but

these were sometimes attended with such serious consequences, that the magistrates felt it necessary to interfere and forbid the practice.

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The morel is not, like the mushroom, made an object of culture; but Lightfoot says that he has raised it from seed.

The FIELD MUSHROOM-Agaricus campestris-is the only species which is cultivated in this country. The stem of this fungus is short, solid, and white, marked a little below the cap with a prominent ring, the remains of the curtain which covers the gills in their early stage. The cap is at first white, regularly convex, and a little turned in at the edge: as it advances in growth the surface becomes brown, scaly, and flattened. The flesh is white, firm, and solid; the gills are loose, reaching to the stem on all sides, but not touching it. When young these are of a pinky red, but change to a liver colour about the

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same time that the cap alters its form, and the upper surface also changes colour. The latter circumstances distinguish it, in this stage, from the darkgilled toad-stool, with which it might otherwise be confounded.

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Common Mushrooms. a, a, a, Agaricus campestris. b, Agaricus

auruntiacus.

Mushrooms of this species vary very much in size, some being not more than two inches in diameter, others as much as eight or nine inches, and a few reaching to much larger dimensions. We are told that, in some parts of the northern counties, one mushroom was gathered which measured thirty-four inches in circumference, and weighed one pound. Another, measuring almost thirty inches in circumference, weighed one pound one ounce*; and a third, thirty-two inches in circumference, and ten

*Newcastle Courant,' Sept. 13, 1828,

inches round the stem, weighed as much as one pound eight ounces*.

The mushroom is chiefly used to communicate its peculiar flavour to ragouts, or is served up by itself, prepared with rich gravy. The "button," or fleshy part, is the only portion employed, the stem, gill, and skin being removed. One very general application of mushrooms is, in converting them into the sauce called catsup. For this purpose they are laid for some time in salt, by which means a juice is extracted which is afterwards boiled with spices.

The places in which mushrooms chiefly grow are dry and rich old pastures, where they are gathered in the months of August and September. Their powers of vegetation are extremely strong; this is instanced by the following circumstance,

Some men in the Isle of Wight, a few years ago, observed a large stone rising considerably at the interstices, and upon removing the pavement to discover the cause, found it to be occasioned by a mushroom, the vigorous efforts of which, to increase upwards, had forced the stone from its proper station †.

In some parts of the country mushrooms are to be found in great abundance, and sometimes under circumstances and situations very unexpected. Some cultivators of a patch of potatoes situated in a field in Derbyshire, proceeding to dig up their crop, found, to their great surprise, that a large quantity of fine mushrooms had sprung up among their potatoes, and in a small space of ground they gathered at least five pecks. The ground, previously to planting the potatoes, had been dressed with roadscrapings, and with a small quantity of moss taken

*Manchester Herald,' Sept. 1827.
Gard, Mag. vol. iv.

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