PUFF-BALLS AND TOADSTOOLS. 161 



around the stem, and remains a good mark of 

 this family of Agarics. The toadstools are but 

 the seed-bearing organs of this cellular crypto- 

 gamic plant, that flourishes in the dark soil in 

 the form of rootlets and threads. The spores, 

 or seeds, are formed in the gills by millions and 

 continually shed, but we do not see them, and 

 the lightest breath of air carries them away. 

 However, it is an easy matter to get a view of 

 them in this way: slice off the cap and care- 

 fully place it on a bit of black paper, or even 

 brown, and cover it over with a dish, and let it 

 remain for a few hours. Upon examination 

 you will find that the spores have dropped 

 upon the paper, forming a beautiful wheel as 

 each gill threw down its own portion directly 

 under it. In some species the spores are daz- 

 zling white, in others pink, in others golden ; 

 but in all, when under a good microscope, can 

 be seen beauty and elegance of finish, as if each 

 one was the pride of some master eye and hand. 

 These wheel patterns are so beautiful that one 

 may preserve them for the pleasure of looking 

 at them. This is easily done by gumming the 

 paper with a little mucilage and allowing it to 

 dry, and placing on the top of the specimen a 

 piece of damp cloth ; this will yield enough 

 moisture to make the paper slightly sticky, 



