Influence of Mushrooms on Growth of Some Plants. 



307 



Numbers 24-30, 200 cc liquid containing two grams powdered dry 

 mushroom which had fermented, placed in bottom third of each basket. 



Number 31, 200 cc. liquid containing one and one-third grams pow- 

 dered dry mushroom which had fermented, placed in bottom third of 

 basket. 



Number 32-36, 200 cc liquid containing two-thirds gram powdered 

 dry mushroom which had fermented, placed in bottom third of each 

 basket. The mushroom material was placed in the bottom third of the 

 baskets in order to allow the seedlings a good start before coming in 

 contact with the substance. 



These were planted March 22, 1906, with seeds previously germinated 

 as follows : 



The material in baskets was all watered with carefully distilled 

 water at time of planting, and thereafter as necessary. 



April 4th, there was a noticeable difference in the growth ; in the 

 corn, wheat, sunflower, buckwheat, the stronger fermented substance 

 producing the richest color and the plants were taller. The weaker 

 strength of fermented substance stood next, the unfermented mushroom 

 next, and the check plants were the smallest and had the poorest color. 

 In the fermented mushroom material the roots of the plants having 

 reached the material were normal. In the unfermented mush- 

 room the root tips having reached the mushroom) substance 

 was now fermenting by the action of bacteria were 

 and dead, but there were numerous lateral roots above, 

 probably obtained some of the fermented substance which 

 had risen in the sand by diffusion and which was not strong enough to 

 cause injury but furnished plant food. The tips of some of the blades of 

 corn in the check were dead. The roots of the buckwheat had not yet 

 reached the lower third where the mushroom was located. The sun- 

 flower and buckwheat showed less difference, except in case of the fer- 



which 



black 



which 



