# Mushrooms in the Lawn? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 31, 2006, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mushrooms-in-the-lawn/350774 "2006-03-31T22:31:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2006, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mushrooms-in-the-lawn/350774/21 "2006-04-01T11:21:25Z")
> [@Blake](#): > > For what exactly? A ratio that nobody but you can see? Darnit, don’t make me do this, **Blake**. The last time with you was exhausting and unfulfilling enough, even though I was proven right in the end. > [@me](#): > > It’s a compelling argument, but I still need a few cites… > [@Blake](#): > > For what exactly? Cites… for these assertions: > [@](#): > > all the evidence suggests that for most species the inoculation comes from wind borne spores I call BS. Show me ANY evidence. Cite? > [@](#): > > Chances are all the mushrooms in your yard and adjacent yards are the same ‘plant’. How do you know? Did you even consider where the OP lives? Cite? > [@](#): > > you are simply seeing the tiny fruiting bodies of a massive subterranean organism First define “massive”, then Cite? > [@](#): > > It would be surprising if the average fungus growing in a lawn didn’t occupy a space greater than 5 metres across Actually, it would surprising if it did. Cite? > [@](#): > > They have some difficulty crossing the equator but aside from that they can go anywhere they like within days. Anywhere they like? They’re sentient beings now! Cite? 😉 > [@](#): > > They are present everywhere, all the time. Damn, they’re god now… Cite? > [@](#): > > What you are suggesting is identical to claiming that since a female locust can produce thousands of eggs I will reduce a locust plague if I kill just one female in a swarm. You are talking about removing one source of reproduction when there are billions of others. I don’t think I suggested anything close to what you are thinking… What exactly did I suggest again? and where? It’s identical to locusts? Heh… cite? ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2006, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mushrooms-in-the-lawn/350774/22 "2006-04-01T12:56:40Z")
> [@Blake](#): > > You need to relaise that you are simply seeing the tiny fruiting bodies of a massive subterranean organism. . And once you grok that, man… ---
**Author:** ![Yeah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/dbc845/32.png) [@Yeah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeah)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2006, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mushrooms-in-the-lawn/350774/23 "2006-04-01T16:13:07Z")
This argument seems to me to be a variant of the “toothbrush argument,” the argument that to preserve your health you need to replace your toothbrush every few months becuase it gets covered with germs from your mouth. This makes about as much sense to me as periodically replacing (or sterilizing or even cleaning) the shovel you use to clean out your chicken coop becuase it gets germs on it. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2006, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mushrooms-in-the-lawn/350774/24 "2006-04-01T17:20:13Z")
Or you could cut out the middleman and just brush your teeth with the shovel. Unless I’ve misunderstood what you’re saying. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2006, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mushrooms-in-the-lawn/350774/25 "2006-04-01T18:44:29Z")
> [@Blake](#): > > For what exactly? A ratio that nobody but you can see? **Eleusis** is right, you discussed a saturation point which implies a ratio of the thing that is doing the saturating to the thing that started out not being saturated. If you can’t see the connection between ratio’s and the word saturation then I have to wonder what you are really trying to say when you say “saturated”. My personal experience experience leads me to believe the spores make a difference, although, understanding that I can only see the tip of the iceberg I’m certainly open to be wrong. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2006, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mushrooms-in-the-lawn/350774/26 "2006-04-02T00:03:19Z")
> [@Yeah](#): > > This argument seems to me to be a variant of the “toothbrush argument,” the argument that to preserve your health you need to replace your toothbrush every few months becuase it gets covered with germs from your mouth. I thought you’re supposed to replace your toothbrush because the bristles get squished and don’t do as good a job at cleaning? ---
**Author:** ![Yeah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/dbc845/32.png) [@Yeah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeah)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2006, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mushrooms-in-the-lawn/350774/27 "2006-04-02T07:07:54Z")
> [@whiterabbit](#): > > I thought you’re supposed to replace your toothbrush because the bristles get squished and don’t do as good a job at cleaning? That, makes sense. However, if you read popular newspapers and magazines or browse the internet you will find many examples such as this: “Make sure you replace your toothbrush regularly, over time bacteria build up in the bristles and this means that every time you clean your teeth you are adding more bacteria to your mouth not removing them!” posted at [http://www.craigentinny.co.uk/resources/ohselect.htm](http://www.craigentinny.co.uk/resources/ohselect.htm) It’s like spraying your shoes with disinfectant after walking on the lawn so that you won’t track fungal spores back on to it the next time you walk across it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mushrooms-in-the-lawn/350774.md?page=1)