THE MODELLING OF FUNGI 377 



composition into both upper and under moulds, bring them 

 rapidly together, and place a weight upon them to press out 

 any superfluous composition, in order to make the edges of the 

 models as thin as possible. This method, however, often 

 resulted in the destruction of the mould, the composition being 

 so immovably set within, that, although the top sometimes 

 relieved satisfactorily, yet the part representing the gills held 

 with such extreme tenacity, that the least damage resulting was 

 the breaking of that part of the mould, if not the whole. The 

 plan now adopted, therefore, is to fill the lower half and nearly 

 fill the upper, and let them set ; then to relieve each half, but 

 leave it attached at one point as small in extent as possible, 

 and, turning it back without entirely removing it from the 

 mould, to trim the edges. The two halves are then replaced, 

 and the upper portion is filled with hot composition — not, how- 

 ever, in such volume as to melt the part already set, nor yet to 

 thicken the edge too much — whilst a hot tool is rapidly passed 

 around the edge of the lower half, or else a very little hot com- 

 position is run around the edge (which has, however, a tendency 

 to thicken it), and the lower half in its mould is turned upon 

 the upper half, the moulds fitting by their keys, and the edges 

 of the half models being brought together with great accuracy. 

 It is then placed under a weight, and, having been left for a 

 short time to set, a very little force suffices to part the moulds, 

 and the half models are found to be united. The complete 

 model is now trimmed as usual, and, should the edges be too 

 thick at any point, or not sufficiently joined, they are rounded 

 off or united by means of a moderately hot tool, which, should 

 the edges gape, is slipped between, and the edges quickly 

 pressed together with the fingers. 



Stalks may be made in like manner, and, if thin, a slightly 

 heated wire should be thrust up from the base ; but, if large, 

 they should be scooped out from the base, and a piece of wood. 



