Guide to the Mushrooms 19 



Spores^ or the seeds of the mushrooms, 

 are of various sizes, shapes and colors, and 

 form very im^Dortant characteristics by 

 which divisions of genera are made. In 

 general, the colors are ivhite, the division 

 of genera known as the leucosporae; pink, 

 rJiodosporae; hroivn, ochrosporae; and 

 black, melanosporae. The shape of the 

 spores is as varied as the color, being el- 

 liptlcal, globose, oblong, spindle-shaped: 

 in appearance, smooth, granular, ivarted. 

 To obtain spores from the gilled fungi, re- 

 move the stem, place the cap gills down 

 upon a piece of paper, white, if the appear- 

 ance of the mushroom seems to indicate 

 any color of spores but white, black or dark 

 colored paper, if the spores seem to be 

 white, cover with a tumbler to prevent 

 draughts of air, and in a short time the 

 spores will be found upon the paper in 

 fine radiating lines in appearance much 

 like powder. If a permanent print is de- 

 sired, gum the i3aper slightly (white of egg 

 will answer if no other fixative is at hand), 

 and the moisture of the fungus will soften 

 the surface so that the spores will adhere 

 to the paper. 



To determine the various characteristics 



