218 LIFE STORIES OF PLANTS 
In the ones as large as marbles the upper end 1s enlarged. 
This is the beginning of the cap. When it reaches this 
size the mush- 
room grows very 
fast. But the 
spawn may grow 
several months, 
or a year, feeding 
on decaying plant 
material in the 

ground before 
Fig. 266. At i oi a h 
oadstool good to eat, with a bag’ on the any mu sh rooms 
base of the stem. (Royal agaric.) 
appear. 
The common 
mushroom, which 
grows in the fields 
and is cultivated 
in mushroom 
houses, has pink 
gills when young, 
and dark brown 
gills when old. It 
has a white or 

1G. 267, A poisonous mushroom, or toadstool, whichever 
you choose to call it, with no true “bag” on the stem, brownish Cap, a 
only scales which represent one. (The fly amanita.) 
stem and a ring. 
Other mushrooms. There are many kinds of mush- 
rooms; many are good to eat, and some are very 
