- FUNGI | hs ‘Ol 
allowed to remain for a few days, the spores can be 
obtained. and their position in the plant traced. The 
pattern on the paper will take the form of radiating lines 
of brown dust which evidently indicate the position and 
direction of the gills. The dust is composed entirely of 
spores, and, as these are extremely minute, care should be 
taken when performing the experiment to cover up the 
plant in such a way as to protect it from Crewe Rus which 
would easily spoil the ‘“ spore print.” : 
The net-work of threads (the mycelium) spreading out 
into the ground enables the plant to absorb food from the 
soil. Unlike other plants we have. learnt about, the 
mushroom has no green leaves, hence is unable to obtain 
and decompose the carbon-dioxide of the air, or to 
manufacture food material. The whole of the food 
required by the plant is obtained by the underground 
mycelium. The use of the upper parts being confined to 
producing and scattering the spores. The Mushroom in 
fact lives on the carbonaceous food prepared by other 
plants or contained in animal remains, and hence can grow 
only in soil containing decaying animal or vegetable matter. 
This inability to manufacture food for themselves is 
characteristic of that class of plants called Fungi, to which 
the Mushroom belongs. 
Mildew. The air, even on the finest day, contains a ” 
considerable quantity of solid particles which float about in 
it and are carried in all directions by the wind. Amongst 
these are great numbers of very fine spores, which only 
wait for a favourable opportunity to germinate and grow. 
If a piece of bread or leather be left exposed to damp air 
for a few days it will become covered with a woolly growth 
known as “blue-mould.” The air is full of the fine spores 
of this plant which readily grow on the damp surface of 
