26 BRITISH EDIBLE FUNGI. 



brown, and the spores which cover the gills are of the 

 same colour. When the stem is cut off, and the cap 

 laid gills downwards on a sheet of white paper for 

 a few hours, or all night, the spores will fall on the 

 paper in lines, and will appear almost black. 



It is a popular error that mushrooms grow to their 

 full size during a single night, and that they dissolve 

 and vanish after the sun shines upon them. They are 

 rapid in growth, and rapid in decay ; but the same 

 mushroom may be watched growing and expanding 

 for two or three days, and then gradually decaying 

 away. Much depends on the dampness or dryness of 

 the season. In some seasons they are exceedingly 

 plentiful, whilst at other times they are comparatively 

 rare. This also is believed to depend chiefly on 

 climatic conditions. It is not unusual for cultivated 

 mushrooms to become attacked by a parasitic mould 

 which renders them unfit for food. This misfortune 

 rarely happens to the wild form, until it is in process 

 of decay. 



Stables, outhouses, and cellars may be utilised for 

 the cultivation of mushrooms, and by ordinary care 

 success is almost certain. They may be grown also 

 in boxes and placed almost anywhere, so long as the 

 temperature and humidity is attended to. The 

 French are fond of growing them in cellars and caves. 

 The catacombs of Paris are noted for their produc- 

 tion of mushrooms in immense quantities. From the 

 Mery caves as many as 3000 pounds are sometimes 



