FUNGI 199 



Observations and experiments. 1. For at least one hour in preparation 

 of this lesson have each member of the class hunt over his home 

 premises and collect specimens of everything he can find that appears 

 to be moldy. Compare these, to try to see how many different molds 

 we have. The mycelium of nearly all molds and mushrooms is white, 

 but the spores and sporing organs may be any color white, red, 

 green, gray, brown, or black. Note particularly the kinds of places in 

 which molds are found growing best, with especial reference to damp- 

 ness, lack of light and direct sunshine, and lack of ventilation. 



2. Select typical specimens and arrange in jelly tumblers (or even in 

 straight-necked vials) for further study. Keep covered when not in use. 



3. Make a series of mold gardens in small vials, trying to have as 

 pure cultures as possible. Use all sorts of materials foods and even 

 linen and cotton cloth. Plant spores from No. 2 by touching a patch 

 of mold with the point of a needle and then touching it to a single 

 point in the material in the vial. Watch it grow from day to day, 

 noting particularly how long it takes to begin to produce spores. To 

 insure dampness the vials should be covered or corked tightly (heavy 

 tinfoil pressed over the mouth of the vial makes a convenient cover), 

 and should contain a little water. The material may be held out of 

 the water on a bit of glass. 



Stand some of the vials in bright sunlight, and keep the rest in the 

 dark, noting differences in growth. Keep some on ice (cold storage) 

 and compare. Keep some protected from dust in a dry air, not covered 

 tightly, and note influence of dryness on growth of molds. 



In order to see the growth clearly, make a series of mold gardens 1 in 

 a perfectly transparent liquid medium. Fruit juice, diluted with one 

 half water, filtered, serves the purpose well. Plant spores from the 

 different molds on the surface, study from day to day, make careful 

 drawings, and note especially the time required for spores to begin 

 to form. 



4. Sketch a plan by which you would keep a home as free as possible 

 from molds. 



1 Hodge, "Nature Study and Life," p. 457 ff., describes and figures 

 mold gardens. 



