The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-09-23
FINDS GIANT
PUFF BALL
BIOLOGIST DISCOVERS A
MONSTER SPECIES OF
BREAD MUSHROOM.
Was "A Inches in Circumference
and Weighed Almost Eight
Pounds-in Mill Park.

Prof. H. w. Clark, a govern
ernment biologist OF Washington,
ID. c., who with Prof. Charles b.
Wilson, the latter the professor
OF biology in the State Normal
School at Westheld, Mass, have
been studying the specief OF river
mussels in the rivers Of this and
adjoining counties for the past
few months, brought to the Trlb-
une of e, the largest species OF
mushroom, we have ever seen,
and which Prof. Clark pronoun-
ces a. very remarkable specimen.
The fungus was found by the BIZ
ologist in the Mill Park, close to
the river. back of the Zehner mill,
in the north part OF this city. The
scientific name OF The specimen Is
Lycoperdon gigan teum, or Giant
Puff Ball. The fungus, which is
sometimes called bread mush-
room, weighs Z pounds and IL 1-2
ounces. 1t is 315 millimeters or
Ii "a inches across, and stood on
its stem 260 millimeterS Or 10 1-2
inches high. 1t is about "A inches
in circumference. The top OF the
specimen. which is edible resem-
bles a large white cake, OF the
Angels Food, variety. 1t is as
large as a very large wash basin,
and of that shape. The mushroom
was found Friday morning,
and there were several species in
the neighborhood OF this one.
Some had been eaten by cattle.
When treated as egg plant, by
soaking in salt water, it is very
palpable dish. In the opinion OF
the professor, the species brought
to this Office had been growing
for about two DAYS. Later the
inside turns to a smoky spore'
similar to the small puff ball,
known to every small boy.
Studying Mussels.
AS stated above Professors
Clark and Wilson are in this city
and vicinity, studying the life and
habits of river mussels- The Kan
kakee river system is being Pur-
sued from its source to mouth
in this system Yellow river is in
cluded. The reason for the study
of mussels is tssis-sexeral sthous'
and tons of these musseIs (known
as clam shells) are used every
year by manufactures, for the
mother-of-pearl obtained, for
making pearl buttons etc. 1t is
feared by these manufacturers
that the supply OF mussels will
soon be exhausted, and so the
government has undertaken to
construct a biological station al
Fairport, Ia, where mussels will
be cultivated. The two biologists
are in this neighborhood studying
their characteristics, breeding
time. and conditions favorable to
their growth. One peculiar fac,
being studied, is the Matching OF
young. First the microscopic off
spring is carried in the glllS OF
the parent. 1t is then deposited
on the ground, and later attaches
itself to the gills or fms OF fishes.
Which fish are the best carriers,
is being studied. In nature many
of these eggs die. because they
do not become attached to fish.
In the government station, the
proper fish will be provided IN
proper quantities. Another point
being studied Is parasites which
are destructive to the life OF mus
sells. Many different varieties OF
mussels have been found in the
river in and about this city. Prof.
Clark has returned to this city,
from the lower Kankakee, to re-
cover from a cold, contracted
there, while his partner is purSu-
ing the study down the kankakee