ii8 



RESEARCHES ON FUNGI 



upon its flattened end (Fig. 67). In the course of 5 hours this 

 weight was raised by the upward pressure of the stipe a distance of 

 3 mm. Next day, the cap was found to be tightly fitted to the 

 pileus owing to the enlargement of the latter. A thin test-tube 

 was obtained and partly filled with shot, so that it weighed 



100 grams. This test-tube was then 

 set in an upright position with its 

 base resting upon the glass cap 

 covering the pileus ; and, to prevent 

 its falUng out of the vertical, it was 

 enclosed by a loosely fitting glass 

 cy Under (part of a larger test-tube) 

 which was held in a clamp in the 

 manner shown in Fig. 68. The 

 weight of 100 grams was pushed 

 upwards by the elongating stipe a 

 distance of 4 mm. in 1 hour and 15 

 minutes. Additional shot was then 

 added to the test-tube so that its 

 weight was increased to 150 grams. 

 This weight was then raised 1 mm. 

 in 2 hours. As the test-tube was 

 nearly filled with shot, instead of 

 using more shot a further load of 

 50 grams was added by means of a 

 brass weight which was placed on 

 the top of the tube as shown in 

 Fig. 68. The 200 grams were then 

 raised 2 mm. in 1 hour and 30 minutes. By adding another 

 brass weight, the load was then increased to 300 grams ; but this 

 resulted in the stipe bending and breaking, so that the experiment 

 came to an end. 



The full load which was actually lifted by the fruit-body was 

 201-5 grams, for to the 200 grams represented by the test-tube 

 with its shot and the brass weight above it must be added 1 • 5 grams, 

 the weight of the glass cap covering the top of the pileus. Now 

 201-5 grams is approximately equal to 7 ounces or nearly half a 



Fig. 67. — Coprinus sterquiliniis. 

 Measurement of tlie lifting 

 power of a developing fruit- 

 body. A young fruit-body, 

 growing from a mycelium 

 developed in sterilised horse- 

 dung balls contained in a glass 

 dish, has its base firmly seated 

 on the bottom of the dish. A 

 glass cap a has been put over 

 the pileus and on this cap rests 

 the brass weight b of 20 grams. 

 The space at c was packed witli 

 cotton-wool (not here shown). 

 The stipe continued to grow in 

 length and , as it did so, it pushed 

 the weight upwards. Natural 

 size. 



