PROCESSES OF DECAY. 



279 



dwellings and clean bodies and clothes. Bacteria are more 

 numerous in ill- ventilated rooms than in fresh air. 



Other demonstrations of decay processes which may be 

 given are the growing of moulds on damp bread or jam 

 kept in a close atmosphere, e.g. in a closed tin vessel or 

 under a bell jar. Pupils may be familiar with the occur- 

 rence of a fungus disintegrating wood, and sometimes 

 causing serious damage in houses the Dry Eot fungus. 



MYCELIUM 



Fig. IM. Mushroom. The spores are borne on the lamellae or gill-like 

 plates below the cap (Pileus). 



A note should be made of the appearance of toadstools 

 in the woods amongst decaying leaves or tree stumps. A 

 lesson should be given on the part's of a toadstool or 

 mushroom (Fig. 158). The following experiment should 

 be performed : 



Experiment. Gather some toadstools, cut them up, 

 and placing them in a clean porcelain vessel, char over 



