MUSHROOM GROWING 



their interest in the habits of these animals 

 is aroused. In the same way, when atten- 

 tion is directed intelligently to the salient 

 characteristics and habitats of the different 

 mushrooms, they will not be confused or 

 easily forgotten. The point is that if we 

 develop careless habits in the observation of 

 any growing things, we shall need a special 

 effort to dislodge our early and hazy im- 

 pressions. It may therefore be well at the 

 outset to note some of the important charac- 

 teristics of a typical form of the cultivated 

 mushroom, and at the same time acquire 

 the terminology necessary to discuss any 

 group of these organisms. 



Cap, stem, and ring. The field mush- 

 room is interesting not only in appearance, 

 but in life history as well. The full grown 

 mushroom (sporophore) is of the stout- 

 stemmed umbrella type (Plate I, a). It 

 consists, then of a centrally placed stalk or 

 stipe, 2 to 5 inches in height, usually not 

 more than i inch in diameter, and upon this 

 stipe there is supported the relatively large 



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