THE GENERAL NATURE OF MOLDS 



15 



leather, as well as upon a host of other materials. We 

 frequently find upon other foods, especially fruits, two or 

 three kinds of brown molds, and some that even when 

 fruiting remain pure white. Some, again, become pretty 



Fig. 4. The sprouting of the 

 spores of Penicillium. h.V b 

 there is a cluster of seven 

 spores sprouting to form a 

 colony. 



nearly black, while still 

 others grow red or pink. 

 One of the very common 

 forms consists of a rather 

 coarse, mass of threads, 

 upon which are growing 

 numerous rounded black 

 balls about the size of a 



period, while another consists of delicate threads with 

 clusters of white spores looking like snowballs. Each of 

 these different colors indicates a different species of mold. 

 There are scores of species known to botanists, but it is 

 quite unnecessary for the housekeeper to attempt to dis- 

 tinguish them. Pieces of moldy lemon, banana, apple, and 

 bread will be quite sure to show different species of molds. 



Fig. 6. A cluster 

 of spores of an 

 older colony. 



Fig. 5. The growth from two spores 

 two days later than Fig. 4, showing 

 the beginning of the formation of 

 spores, showing method of origin at 

 a, b, c. 



