31 



in enormous quantities, in order that a few may be fortunate enough to 

 alight in some favorable situation suitable for germination and the 

 reproduction of the individual. The spores are borne on the so-called 



gills, located under the head, or umbrella- 

 like shaped cap, v^'hich is termed technically 

 the pileus. The mushroom that is gathered 

 for market constitutes the fruiting portion 

 of the plant. The other portion of the plant 

 is comparatively insignificant, and is repre- 

 sented by the white thread-like growth or 

 Mycellium which permeates the soil. 



The so-called mushroom sjjawn is com- 

 posed of these threads or root-like filaments, 

 composted with manure and pressed into 

 bricks. Much of the spawn or bricks sold 

 in the markets comes from England or 

 France, and frequently fails to spawn when 

 planted under favorable conditions. The 

 English spawn is sold in the form of bricks 

 which weigh about one and one-fourth 

 joounds, while the French spawn is com- 

 posed of flakes or loose matei'ial. Spawn 

 is sold by all of the leading seedsmen. In 

 Fig. 1. — Longitudinal section of sowing the Spawn the bricks are broken up 



arauBhroom; poisonous species • . ii • j i ^ t 



- • ' '"«^'^ nii.iiavr.iic: Small picccs aud planted. 



of Amanita. /", pileus; G, g\i 

 or lamellSB, on which the spores 

 are borne; S, stipe or stem; A, 

 annulus or ring; F, volva; 31, 

 mycellium. 



mto numerous 



The larger the amount of live spawn con- 

 tained in the bricks the better is the prod^ 

 uct. Occasionally attemjits have been 



made to utilize home-made spawn, but practically all of this material 



used is imported. 



Mushrooms do not constitute an especially easy crop to grow, or at 



Fig. 2. — Spawn mixed with manure and pressed into bricks. 



least success has not always been obtained by those who have attempted 

 to grow them. One of the chief difficulties appears to lie in poor spawn, 

 and undoubtedly proper temperature and soil conditions have not always 

 been maintained. 



