EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 195 



Id those kinds which grow ou wood. It is surprising to see how soon the 

 fallen branch or prostrate trunk becomes the prey of the insidious and 

 greedy mycelial threads of such fungi. ' 



This silent, unobtrusive growth of the mycelium continues until a 

 sufficient development has been reached for the production of the fruit- 

 ing stage of the fungus in the form of the mature mushrooms. Or, if 

 but little moisture is present, this growth is correspondingly slow, being 

 entirely checked when dry. On renewal of the water supply, as during 

 a rainy spell, the mycelial growth is resumed. Soon little enlargements 

 or knobs appear on the largest of the mycelial strands or at some portion 

 of the mycelial system. These rapidly enlarge, fed from the connecting 

 threads of the myceliuni. until in many cases we can detect the form of 

 the mature fungus into which they are to develop. If moisture is now 

 plentiful and the temperature favorable, the succeeding stages are rapid, 

 the small, closely packed cell-filaments of the little knobs rapidly expand 

 ing into those of the full grown fungus. 



This in brief, is the general process of development of the flesh fungi 

 which comprise the mushrooms and toadstools. 



FUNGUS 'spores. 



The ultimate object of every fungus is spore production. These spores 

 are microscopic bodies produced in immense numbers on the fruiting 

 form of the fungus and so small and light that they float in the air as an 

 invisible dust. Manv of them fall on the ground near the place where 



Fig. 3. Fig. 4. 



Figure 3. A few of the different shapes of fungus spores. Highly magnified. 



Figure 4. Mushroom spores germinating by sending out a slender germ-tube. —(Oiit'inal.i 



they are produced and are washed into the soil or carried away by rains. 

 Others are wafted away in every breeze, possibly carried for days on the 

 wings of the wind, to be brought down at length, by dew or rain, long 

 distance from their starting points. In this way they are carried to the 

 ends of the earth, dusted into every crack and cranny, on every exposed 

 surface of wood or humus, or cast upon some water's surface. Like the 

 seed, mentioned in the parable, many of them perish, but they are sown 

 with a generous hand, and some are sure to fall into good ground. 



Those spores which find a favorable resting place may germinate by 

 sending out, usually, a slender thread-like tube, which at once branches 

 out in search of food materials. In this wav the mycelium is established. 



