The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-11-30
ALL ABOUT TOADSTOOLs.
When Thoroughly Understood II Proves q
N2osf Excellent Friend of Mankind.

TOadstOols are busy scayengers-a
self constituted and vigilant board @.
health. They alone silence more house
flies than all the brushes, traps. poi
sons, whacks and swearing devoted 10
the determination of that saint pre-.
venting insect by the white form
which grows upon them and weave
them shrouds after they are dead
They delight the epicure with their
delicious trufile and savory sauces. and
have entered into a companionship
with beefstcaks as gastronomic de.
lights, inseparable as peaches and
cream. Their favos and ilavors arc
known BY the hundreds ~ the my
cophagist, who is not afraid TO qucs-
ton and cot OF them. The edible
varieties are numerous. The writer
has eaten enjoyably Of over 100
and confidently expects TO add
many more TO the list The late Dr.
Curtis. of North Carolina, catalogues
1l2 edible kinds found by him in that
state. Every day mycophagis;s arc
adding to their cuisine species not
heretofore tested TO the safety point in
eating. and even those which have
long borne a bad reputation 1t is as
supplying stores of nutrilivc matter
and thus forming a most important.
excellent and delicate food supply that
toadstools arc Of most value Almost
everything contributes TO the arts, but
food supply is limited TO digestiblc
things. To the inhabitants OF many
nations toadstools--in their edible ca.
pacity-are most important The Rus
SLAMS pay particular attention to their
economy and cooking. The Italian
peasants regard toadstools as among
their greatest blessings In England
all Of the edible varieties ere eagerly
sought after; tons daily find their way
from wood and field TO the markets OF
town and cities and the great manu-
factories of sauces and pickles. Every
where in Europe they are dried for
winter use. In France, especially,
much attention is paid to the cultya-
ton of the toadstool of commerce, and
it constitutes an enormous industry.
But few varieties yield the secrets OF
the necessaIies for their cultivation.
Most of them positively refuse 10 i'm
part the knowledge To the most seduc
tive care and closest limitations of Their
natural homes and haunts, and there
fore can be found only upon tho spots
and within the circles Dame Nature
has assigned 10 them. They Will not
COLOMBO; they will not emigrate; they
will not be cheated out Of their natural
possessions; they refuse TO be educated,
and stand themselves upon their single
lcg as the most Independent and con-
tray growth with which man has t.
deal. The polypoerei climb trees
their twin brother, the Boietus, VIII
not do so under any circumstances.
The truiflc hides under ground; Tho
lycoperdon camps on the ground and
enjoys the .hgneous stupidity Of rotten
stumps; the hydnei are moro boho-
mian, and the agaricini az cosmopoh-
tan. No mortal yet hes found the spot
where a toadstool Of some kind
does not grow-cycn upon metals
and yet not over n dozen
varieties Of the many thousands Will
allow themselves TO be taken from
their natural habitat 10 live and grow
in another mocking 1t as Intimately as
the proycrbial pair Of peas. They arr
loysll beyond precedent 10 their native
soil, and not willing TO accept natural
izatiOn papers from any one or forany
purpose, no matter how polite tho
iendering. The much kicked and
thoroughly dospiscd puff balls aro
properly SO treated when they reach
the dust giving age, because they aru
then too old to eat; but when young
their white flesh is very tempting, ana,
when not changing color 10 any shade
Of yellow upon being cut or broken,
will be pronounced by The most faslldl-
GUS equal to any table delicacy. All
white flesh puff balls arc edible. Tho
object Of this article is 90 encourage
readers to notice and be friendly b"
toadstools and 10 enter into study OF
them which cannot fail To give intel
lectnal and stomachic delight but IS
would be criminal 10 prompt q study
which might lead 10 danger without
strongly lmpreSsing the characters.
ties of one OF the most deadly OF
poisonous plants-tbe amamt9. Com
mon sense must guide the con-
Mmer-the same sense that ~ used IA
the selection Of other food-and that
sense, properly exercised, will furnish
to tho possessors Of it many dishes 'fel'
icatc and delicious. 50 numerous ar
toadstools 50 well does a study OF them
define their habits and habitats, that
the writer never fails, upon any day
from April to December, to find ample
supply Of healthy, nutritious, delicate
toadstools for himself and family. The
old saying Of many-that only ono
kind is Gt TO cats easily expunged
from proverb sanctity. Every bite Oh
good ripe cheese includes thousandsof
toadstools; every piece Of bread, every
drop of vinegar, every apple, tomato,
pear or peach, every drink OF water,
every breath inhaled, includes with 10
the despised toadstools or their spores
in some Of their many sha!c5. LIP
pincott's Magazine.
Not Good Dog Diet.
a