HOW MUSHROOMS GROW 



decaying vegetable substance around and spreads 

 through the soil somewhat as the rootstock and rootlets 

 of ferns do. 



After a while the threads mat together at certain 

 places and form little balls. At first these are about as 

 big as the head of a pin. They grow larger until they 

 are the size of a shoe button. If the ball is to be- 

 come a toadstool 

 a stem appears. 

 The stem and the 

 button keep on 

 growing and soon 

 the button comes 

 out of the earth. 

 Then it expands 

 and we see our 

 acquaintance, the 

 toadstool. 



If the button 



is to be what is known as a puff ball no stem appears. 

 It grows into a round ball covered with a skin or rind. 

 Sometimes the part that springs out of the earth stands 

 erect and sends out many branches. Then it looks 

 like a piece of coral. Or it may be shaped like an 

 Indian's club. This plant is four or five inches tall 

 and is blunt and rounded at the end. 



Some fungi grow in trees instead of in the ground. 

 The mycelium gets into the tree through wounds where 



69 



Spawn, or Mycelium. Shows Button Stage and 

 Young Mushroom with Parts Complete. 



