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STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



appears to come up in a night, is really the result of growth that has 

 occupied weeks and possibly months or years in its development. This 

 vegetative part of the fungus, hidden from sight in the soil, rotting wood 

 or decaying vegetable matter, is known to the botanist as mycelium, and 

 to the mushroom grower as spawn. This mycelium consists of slender 

 branching threads, delicate as the web that the spider spins, branching 

 again and again, penetrating all parts of the substance in which it grows 

 in search of food materials, and finally forming root-like strands or felted 

 masses composed of interwoven threads. 



Figure 2. Boot-like strands of mycelium of the pear-shaped PuBE-ball growing in rotten wood 

 YoDDg puff-balls In the form of small, white knobs are forming on these strands. 



Natural size.— (Original. ) 



These branching and- interlacing strands and threads of mycelium can 

 often be found by overturning logs and rotting leaves in the woods where 

 they sometimes appear, rivaling in delicacy and beauty the crystal tracery 

 of Jack Frost's breath on the window pane. Under the proper conditions 

 of moisture and temperature and in the presence of materials that will 

 furnish food, this growth of mycelium goes on with considerable rapiditv 

 and may cover considerable areas. 



Fungi differ from most other plants in the fact that they have no leaves 

 nor anything to do the work of leaves, consequently they are unable to 

 assimilate the raw food materials of the soil and air! but must depend on 

 animal or vegetable matter already formed. For this reason mushrooms 

 and toadstools are found most abundant where such materials are in a 

 state of decay, as about manure heaps, in fertile fields and meadows, 

 among the decaying leaves and sticks in the forest, while logs and stumps 

 furnish a favorite resort for many kinds. Indeed, this process of decay 

 is largely due to the dissolving and absorbing action of the mycelium oV 

 fungi on the tissues of these substances. This effect is verv noticeable 



