Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-10-21

and here mushroom beds are made, and
immense quantities of the plant are grown
for home and foreign markets. An idea
OF the magnitude of the business may be
formed when 1t is known that one propri-
etor has twenty-one miles of beds, another
sixteen, another seven, and SO on through
long list. In the qualifications of the cave
of Monuouge, Just outside the fortifica-
tons of Paris there are six or seven miles
run of mushroom beds. 1t Is entered
through circular opening, like the mouth
of a well, and the only mode of descent is
down shaky pole furnished with cross
bars, the base of which rests in darkness
sixty feet below. A gentleman who visited
this cave remarks:
Il had an idea that one might enter
sideways in more agreeable manner, but
il was not so. Down the shaky pole my
guide creeps, / follow, and soon reach the
bottom, from which little passages radi-
ate A few little lamps fixed on pointed
sticks are placed below, and, arming our
selves with one each, we slowly COM
menced exploring dark, still, tortuous
passages On each hand are little, mar
row beds of halfdecomposed stable ma
nure running along the wall that have
not yet been spawned. Wherever the
rocky SUBWAY becomes as large as a
small bedroom, two or three little beds
were placed parallel with each other. They
are about twenty inches high, and were
dotted all over with mushrooms no
bigger than sweet-pea seeds. Everything
looks neat, and not a particle OF litter is
met with"
On the subject of distinguishing poison
Gus species Mr.. Cooke says that there is
no golden rule which will enable us TO tell
at glance the good species from the bad
The only safe guide lies in mastering, one
by one, the specific distinctions, and in
creasing the knowledge through expert
ence, as the child learns to distinguish a
filbert from an acorn, or a leaf OF sorrel
from one of white clover. The characters
of half dozen good esculent species, he
says, may be learned as the plow-boy
learns to discriminate as many species of
birds. He tells US, moreover, that it is not
enough to avoA poisonous species, but
discretion should be used in preparing
and eating good ones. They change so
rapidly that even the cultivated, if long
kept, is unfit for use. Nor is it enough
that they be of good species and fresh; but
plenty of salt must be used in their prepa-
ration to neutralize any delcterious proper
ty, and pepper and vinegar are also rec
commended as advantageous.
OF all the common objects of the coun-
try, toadstools seem to be the least related
TO surrounding things. Neither in form
nor color, nor apparent origin nor aistin-
guishable parts, do they resemble other
plants; and scientific scrutiny must re-
place common observation before the first
step in their classification can be taken
At the very outset of study the botanist is
struck by their paradoxical character. In
rapidity of growth and speedy decay they
are more allied to low animal than To
vegetable forms Like animals, they feed
upon organic matter. Their substance is
rich in nitrogen, has savory, meat-like
taste, and, when decomposing, gives out
a strong, cadaverous smell. They absorb
oxygen and disengage carbonic acid, and
by their avoidance OF light they present a
striking contrast to the rest of vegetation.
Nevertheless, careful observation shows
that they consist of parts and perform
functions by which they are allied to all
other plants, and closely related to one of
the largest groups of the vegetable king.
dom. They stand, in fact, at the head of
the fungi, Of which there are at least as
many species as of all Towering plants put
together - ODnLIT Science HO1ttltly.