The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-10-10
BENNINGTON, VI, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1889

lief follows; the poison has all been alb
sorbed by the patient. In hypodermic
injections Of atropine, or even of other
alkaloids known to physicians, from the
same family, the solanace, if promptly
applied, is found the antidote.
The most important thing IS infallibili-
ty in the recognition Of this pl mt; it
often grows on the margins of meadows
in which may be found the ordinary
pasture mushroom, in its button-size is
easily confounded Herewith, and to this
IS due the superstition that that the COM
mon mushroom becomes hurtful. As it
leaves the soil, it grows from wrapper;
no family, the use of which is advised,
has this wrapper or sheath which re-
mains at the base in cup, on the stem
in ring, on the top in scurf or warts;
all these three marks may not be easily
distinguished on single specimen, but
being gregarious, any number can be ex
amined. On one variety the ring is
wanting, on another the cup soon van
ishes, but both these members of the
family are free from poison. The most
dangerous and common one is pure
white throughout the warts soon vanish,
and the cup, technically called volva,
is safeguard. The gills or underside of
the cap, are pure white IN every stage of
growth. 1t is an extremely beautiful
plant, the most perfect type of the mush
room that grows. .....
The poisonous princIcle is soluable in
vinegar, milk or water, and is thus read.
lily absorbed by the human system. 1t
has been proven by experiment in
France that the substance may be eaten
after macerations in liquid, while the
latter is poison, thus confirming the
statement made in the Moniteur in
1870.
Rapidity of growth is popularity exag-
gerated; that which is gathered is but
the blossom of the vine; the latter is the
spawn, subterraneous white filament,
strong smelling, extending by the con-
slant addition of cells, Its primary de-
velopmeDt from from the spore is a mys-
terry; after that, it may be traced. The
ground beneath your feet in the woods
Is not barren, but teens with vegetation,
| Just as real and distinct as that of the
woodbine and oak, whose foliage is in
terlaced overhead. And hybrids are as
rare as in the other natural kingdoms.
have suspected but two or three in
fifteen years. The method of cultivation
is simply to introduce the spawn in a
bed of compost prepared for its increase;
sufficient stress ls not laid on the neces-
slty of supplying moist air, and continu-
ity of crops can only be secured by
planting the spawn at intervals of a
week in separate sections of the bed.
Mushrooms are good, cooked plainly,
or say, in any way IN which one would
eat oysters; the current receipts involv
ing the addition of spices, etc. ARE worse
than worthless.
There are many interesting facts in
gard to these plants on which | should
like to dwell did space permit. l eat
them daily through the season, and can
usually find enough in an hour to last
for days,so abundant are they all around
Boston. They should be cut off just be-
low the top, gathered perfectly clean,
and only young, hard specimens chosen
, They soon become full of maggots.
, One of the most interesting of theil
natural characteristics is that of chang
ing color. This, by ignorants persons
and, regret tossay, by scientific author
lties, has been said to indicate poison
/; Nothing could be more false. There
, is one Boletus, which turns throughout
the most beautiful blue, many that as
sumo this color in lighter shades, and one
that turns blood-red, this change show
, ing itself wherever the substance is
bruised or cut. These are all esculent
while the dangerous Amanita, may bt
, distinguished by the fact that its gill:
, turn pink or reddish the moment it feelI
the fire.
! There ia a large white mushroom
growing from the elms on Boston Com.
, mon, the gathering of which brought me
J at least notoriety; l dislodge it by lona
pole with knife at the end, and by
practice could catch the cluster on its
! fall in my hat. Such proceedings Sc.
cured an attentive if not always a re
spectful audience at almost any hour.
This article would he incomplete did
not acknowledge the obligations l am
! under to the Su2erintendents of Public
, Grounds, to medical and semitic men
: and to the Librarians of the Horticultu.
! raj and Natural History Societies. Doc
, tors have treated me with a courtesy
and fraternity to have been expected
, only had been of their number. My
communications have always been well
coined to their journals, and their letters
! to me from all parts Of the land form
quite volume.
There is nothing more healthful fol
both mind and body than the pursuit oi
any outdoor science. May l be par
doned if, IN an unromantic age, avow
personal affection for these little com
panions of go many otherwise solitary
rambles. Curious creatures a holy
mystery surrounds your very birth
your change of color at dissolution, al
vivid as that have seen on the dying
dolphin of my ocean wandering, cannot
be explained by the most learned chem
ist; the subtle poison of your tissues de
lies all the reagents known to his labor
atory; no bridal veil is of tracery more
delicate, no lace more fine spun in text.
ure than that which oft adorns your
pretty faces.
And when, as now, the autumn leaves
are falling, soon to be covered with the
winters SHOWS and no vestige of your
growth remains, all that can be writer
of your new life by the hand that often
est touches you with tenderness is. that
by some creative process, hidden below
the moss OF the bank or under the grasE
Of the lawn, the face of the earth, even
il apparently barren of root or germ, will
IN the coming of the spring be once
more smiling, with these "commas ir
sweet natures book, strown up and
down her emerald-tinted page. ."-By
Julius A. Palmer. Jr.,-l874- 1889, in
, the Boston Journal.
CHILDREN ON MARRIAGE.
Children are the keenest observers
and the most practical deducers in.