New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-24

SMOOTH AGARIc Nsarcus naucnolies l9;
T. Young plant mature planit j. Ecr,i'al s s,rr
spores magnhel
..Now" continued the botarist. these are gen
oral principles but tho only SAT" principle ior the
in,Xrer,cnced to follow IL to use only such az are
known e. Themselves 10 be edible Take no rlshs.
There is In some instances close resemblance be-
tween tho edible and the injurious mushroom
which makes careful examination necessary We
have in this State scvonty-hve kinds Of edible
mushrooms. and there are probably dozen xmas
Of poisouols ones and a very large number OF
others that are not known TO be- either eilple OF
poisonous These latter have never been expert
rnonted with. / suppose 'owever that In the
course Of time these unknown ones viii be dsco'-
cred to be perfectly wholesome and safe.
THE only way to tell so as to he perfectly sure
II Won are gathering mushrooms. Is by the color.
Never Judge 10y the shapes. In fact the safest KIND
to eat is that which Is cultivated Among Ameri-
can mushrooms and England has those Of a SINH
lar species that which is known as the Phalioii
Amanita is the most poisonous. 1t IL variable IN
color and ii Is the one which produces the most
mischief The most prominent among that species
are the white form. the greenish blue form and the
brown form. Most OF the mischief inflicted by the
mushroom may be laid TO the door Of the white
form 4 good description Of 1t can be given Ms
follows: II has longer stem than the edible kind;
It has an abrupt bulb at the base ot the STEM mar
gncd the upper side by thin membfancous
eIg
white The edible mushroom. while generally whit
ish in color has no abrupt bulb at the base of the
stem It's stem is not longer than the diameter Of
the cap and the under surface ~ the cap Is Of
beautiful pink color when in good condition. As 1t
becomes old the pink color changes TO IA dark
brown or almost black hue.
''These are the distinguishing features Of these
two" he continued "rhc poisonous one has no
bad taste color. The color of ~" nrdrr surface
of the can Of the good one Is NO. re "hlt'
while under the cap of the poisonoi' r'' YOU VIII
always find the distinguishing mark cf danger In
a mushroom-thc white hue. While out prospecting
for specimens have many times run across some
Of the mushrooms which are said TO bc OF doubtful
character. / have in number of instances eaten
OF them. and have never suffered any unpleasant
result Had they been In the least poisonous l.
who an not strong physically. would nave Suiierel
accordingly. The mushroom Is much abused at
times for [ think that the plants have been eaten
when stale and unhealthy. Then, OF course lh'y
have produced sickness and then the story Is that
ueople have bkcn poisoned by eating mushrooms
Professor Peck Is an authority upon mushrooms
He has made "A study OF them. ana has prepared
a number OF valuable papers. one OF when was
read before the Albany institute There Is not n
mile within Albany that he has not hunted FOR Do'h
mushrooms and specimens for his valuable collec-
ton of plants and flowers. Two years ago he pre-
n,red a work with colored Illustrations for the
Regents but because Of lack or funds the matter
remains in manuscript yet. This work was written
with especial care the ordinary reader and with
a view of instructing the public on this important
question.
one Of the most beautiful mushrooms PROFESSOR
peck believes IL the smooth agarlc which Is
sometimes found in thin or open woods but more
frequently and more abundantly In grassy ground
in pastures and along roadsides' or In cultivated
fields or gardens 1t is more common in autumn
but sometimes appears in summer 1t has VIDE
range. extending NJ far west as Kansas. It's peau-
tiful white regular outlines symmetrical shape ana
freedom from the attacks OF insects HI commune "
| mako II ono ~ the neatest and most attractive
OF agarics IL Is not only beautiful, but, by reason
Of being edible IL also useful 1t is important that
those who would use it for food should be able
10 distinguish IT, for 1t Is liable to he confused WIN
any one Of half dozen others unless It's characters