New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-24
GOOD AND BAD MUSHROOMS.
PROFESSOR PECK TELLS HOW TO DISTIN-
GUISH THEM
PECULIARITIES OF COLOR AND SHAPE OF THE
EDIBLE AND POISONOUS SPEClES-CAC-
TIoys TINT MUSHROOM GATHER
FPS sIIoULD HEED.
Frs SHOULD HEED.

Frs SHOULD HEED.
Albany. Sept % (SpeciaD. -"Boleti the tecnnicai
name for mushrooms. the State Botanst' Charles
II. Peck says. are so heshy and perishaoe' ana III
the dried state generally lose so much OF 'heir
natural color and character. that their STUDY Is
attended with some difficulty. This diihcuity mas
In some been increased by imperfect anu III
complete descriptions and unsatisfactory classifca-
ton. Professor Fries. than whom propapy TO one
has had better knowledge OF them' says no
genus has piven me more trouble than that OF the
boleti" In the "Hymenomycetes Europael lVV spe-
cies are recorded. In work on the subject pre-
pared by Professor Peck in 1889 he describes 10 OF
the American species. The professor says 'hat
probably this number will be increased with the
advance OF our knowledge of this part OF our fora
for MANY narts of this country yet remain 10 DC
mycoogically explored or the species enumerated
by Professor Peck thirty-six occur also III huiopo
This leads Mr.. Peck to remark: Inc Iaisc mum
Der remaining indicates "A rich ana pecuha' oo'e.u'
flora II has been necessary institute two tribes
not represented in Europe for the reception OF spe
ces for which place is found among the ft'e-
sian tribcs"-this vegetable being classed by tribes
or groups.
Most Of our boleti appear in the warmest part
of the season. and especially in very warm SHOW
cry weather. In this latitude a few comma" SPe
ces may be found from June to OCTOBER ou. iho't
of them occur during July and August. In view oil
eating mushrooms considerable interes, mas oee"
manifested I'm the subject OF eatabe and poisonous
mushrooms So great has been the interest mann
Tested By the public i'm the matter, mat io' '"o
last tvo uceks state Botanist Peck has been in
daily RECENT of requests from all parts OF the state
asking for some rule which be used in distin-
cushing the edible from the poisonous iungL
The State Botanlst sat buried among piles OF
manuscript and surrounded by many specimens Of
dried nl,nts among which were scattered spcci-
mems of the mushroom. when The Tribune corre-
spondent Interrupted him The subject OF the dlt-
ference between the edible and poisonous mush-
room was preached. The botanist smiled as he re-
marked that IL was singular. the great interest
manifested in the quick growing plant which had
recently caused 50 much trouble Then he added'
"Rcaiiv in the first place there are 50 many Cd
blc species and go many poisonous ones that IL Is
not possible to give any simple rule by which 10
distinguish the two. TO all rules that can be given
there are AS there to all rules. exceptions.
Certain general principles may be laid down when
may be- something Of guide. and among these
will mention the foowns
"Tlrst. avoid all those species that are tough or
eathcry in substance; for, of course these are IN
digestible.
Second. avoid all those species that have an
acriI. bitter or unpleasant taste.
Third. avoid all species which. upon being cut
| or bruised exhibit n grccnish blush color.
| Fourth do not max" use 81 old. maggoty
! wormcatca or watcrsoakcd species, even though
| they may be- edible Stale mushrooms. those
which have been cut for time, should not be
| used'
Then Professor Peck exhibited a drawing which
| nc had made OF the edible mushroom