Introduction 



on the ends of inconspicuous threads, free or enclosed in a bottle-like 

 receptacle called a perithecium. Cohort Hypomycetes is composed 

 of those species of fungi commonly called molds. The spores are 

 produced, naked, from the ends of inconspicuous threads. 



In the Agaricaceae the first family in Hymenomycetes the young 

 plant is completely enveloped. (Plate III, fig. B, p. 2.) Its head is 

 as yet undefined and its body may be classed as dumpy, but shut in 

 and protected are a great quantity of knife-like plaits (Plate III, fig. C., 

 p. 2), on the outer surface of which, when the plant matures, will be 

 borne its spores. It therefore belongs to the Hymenomycetes, and to 

 the Family Agaricaceae gill-bearing. 



If the ground becomes moist or there comes a heavy dew or a rain, 

 the young plant, closely compacted and very solid, which has been 

 under the surface for many days waiting its chance to get forth to light 

 and air, rapidly swells, breaks through the moistened earth, goes 

 rapidly to cell-making, ruptures its outside covering, the head expands 

 and in so doing spreads out its gills or hymenium. (Plate III, figs. C, 

 D, E, p. 2.) The membrane which covered the gills either vanishes, 

 or gathers round the stem in the form of a ring or circular apron, or it 

 may partially adhere to the edges of the top, cap or pileus and hang as 

 a fringe from it ; the stem elongates ; the whole plant assumes the colors 

 of its species and in a few hours or days at most it stands forth, a 

 marvel of beauty, structure and workmanship. 



But little is known of how these spores reproduce themselves. The 

 microscope fails to completely penetrate the mystery. A whole fungus 

 is but a mass of cells, the spore is but one of them. That these simple 

 cells do produce after their kind there is no doubt, but so minute is the 

 germ and hidden its methods that science has failed to solve them. 



The first Family of Hymenomycetes is Agaricaceae. Its members 

 always have gills or modifications of them. In some cases notably in 

 Cantharellus the gills have the appearance of smooth, raised veins 

 over which is the spore-bearing surface. The hymenium is but an 

 extension of the fibers of the cap, folded up like the plaits and flutings 

 of ruffles, and laundered with exquisite neatness. If it is carefully 

 detached and spread out like a fan it will cover a large surface, many 

 times the size of the cap from which it has been taken, and will show 

 that what is a consumption of material in dress ornamentation is 

 utilized by economical Dame Nature to increase the spore-bearing 



ii xvi 



