Fungi: Their Nature and Uses

THE INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC SERIES.

VOLUME XV.




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THE INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC SERIES.




FUNGI:

THEIR

NATURE AND USES.


BY
M. C. COOKE, M.A., LL.D.

EDITED BY
THE REV. M. J. BERKELEY, M.A., F.L.S.



NEW YORK:
D. APPLETON AND COMPANY,
549 AND 551 BROADWAY.
1875.




PREFACE BY THE EDITOR.


As my name appears on the title-page of this volume, it is necessary
that I should exactly state what part I had in its preparation. I had
no doubt originally engaged to undertake the work myself; but finding,
from multiplicity of engagements and my uncertain health, that I could
not accomplish it satisfactorily, I thought the best course I could
take was to recommend Mr. Cooke to the publishers; a gentleman well
known, not only in this country, but in the United States. The whole
of the work has therefore been prepared by himself, the manuscript and
proof sheets being submitted to me from time to time, in which I
merely suggested such additions as seemed needful, subjoining
occasionally a few notes. As the work is intended for students, the
author has had no hesitation in repeating what has been stated in
former chapters where it has been thought to prove useful. I have no
doubt that the same high character will justly apply to this as to Mr.
Cooke's former publications, and especially to his "Handbook of
British Fungi."

                                                       M. J. BERKELEY.

SIBBERTOFT,

  _November 23, 1874._




CONTENTS.


                                                                  PAGE
     I. NATURE OF FUNGI.                                             1
    II. STRUCTURE.                                                  17
    III CLASSIFICATION                                              64
    IV. USES.                                                       82
     V. NOTABLE PHENOMENA.                                         105
    VI. THE SPORE AND ITS DISSEMINATION.                           119
   VII. GERMINATION AND GROWTH.                                    137
  VIII. SEXUAL REPRODUCTION.                                       163
    IX. POLYMORPHISM.                                              182
     X. INFLUENCES AND EFFECTS.                                    209
    XI. HABITATS.                                                  233
   XII. CULTIVATION.                                               253
  XIII. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.                                 266
   XIV. COLLECTION AND PRESERVATION.                               287
        INDEX.                                                     295




LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.


   FIG.                                                           PAGE
     1. Agaric in Process of Growth.                                17
     2.