From: riburr@shentel.net   
      
   I started clearing the forest floor in my yard a couple years ago.  This   
   consisted of raking leaves and dead brush into small piles and burning   
   it.  Could only handle small areas at a time using this method.   
   Progress was slow.   
      
   This year I've begun using a powered hedge trimmer and leaf blower.   
   Progress has sped up considerably.   
      
   The thing is, the leaf blower can remove most of the forest duff   
   consisting of a layer a couple inches thick of decaying leaves and   
   sticks, down to what looks like more mineral soil.  Patches of mycelia   
   are often visible once the duff has been blown off.  The ashes remaining   
   after burning piles of leaves and debris are scattered more evenly by   
   using the leaf blower.   
      
   My guess is this is a significant change in the ecology from previous   
   conditions.  I know forest fires are part of the natural environment,   
   but modern forestry uses extensive fire control, and even the use of   
   controlled or prescribed burns.  I'm wondering what effect clearing and   
   burning has on the mushroom population.  I've already noticed mushrooms   
   become much more visible.  Don't know if mushrooms will become more   
   viable and plentiful by clearing the forest floor, or if I can expect   
   different species to become more or less plentiful.   
      
      
   --   
   Ruralpsychedelia:   
   http://ruralpsychedelia.blogspot.com   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)