Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1897-07-14
FAIRY RINGS
= Desirable Species 81 Mushroom co
he Found About Washington.

4 Desirable Species of Mushroom 20
he Found About Washington.
Several species of mushrooms grow i'm
such fashion on our lawns and
meadows that they often form regular
and almost perfect rings or circles.
These are generally called fairy rings"
but the term should only be applied TO
the rings of one particular species.
Known to botaniSts as Marasmius
Oreades. To suit. however. our own
/ purpose we shall name these fungi fairy
caps as TO their form. and fairy bread
as to their substance, for no dainty lips
OF our modern fairies should despise the
delicate morSel these plants oiTcr us
either in their natural state or when
prepared for the table by an expert
hand. The little mushrooms of the
fairy tribe deserve great deal more
attention than they have received in
the past. Their peculiar habits. their
! pleasing appearance and great useful
ness as delicate food, should make
them our favorites and protcges.
/ We have also the opportunity OF OBJ
serving number OF fairy rings in our
own beautiful city. Many private and
public parks are decorated with them.
The great circle on the Mall and the
white house grounds have many OF
these, though they might be obliteratcd
for a time
Senator Morrill, seems To have been
particularly favored by the fairies
They have planted not less than three
rings on the lawn in front of his resi-.
dence ON Thomas circle Persistent
little pnnts they are. these fairy caps.
| Once they have "A foothold ON favor
able spot they will stay for years. en-
larging their circle with each new crop
Their presence il rather detrimental TO
the sod and grass will not thrive inside
such rings. The process by which fairy
caps manage TO place themselves, in
spite of numerous obstacles. in circle
fashion cannot be satisfactorily eN.
planned here. but undoubtedly the radi.
ating rootlets are the principal fnctor
in producing this little wonder of ma
ture
IL requires but little discrimination
TO identify any single fungus Of the
fairy tribe. We might almost say "A
blind man can readily distinguish il
from the other common lot of small
fungi, such rs lawn nails. ink drippcrs
and cNtinguishers. all with delicate thin
stems. In the fairy caps the stem Is
also thin, but strong. fibrous. often
twisted, and the lower part hairy and al.
most woody. In puiliug "A cap from the
| ground, the root stalk comes always out
and all that may Ice attached to it..
Groups of from three 10 five frequently
! grow together. and are solidly attached
10 each other AT the base of the stem.
| The color Of the cap is not unlike
chamois leather or uutanned kid; the
underside and upper part of stem are
nearly of the same color as the cap. 1t
| being whitc-spored fungus. the un-
| derlining does not turn darl, or black.
/ but remains light brown What en-
| titles these mushrooms more than any
! other species TO the name of fairy caps
rs their unusual faculty of rcviving and
regaiuing almost their original fresh
ness whenever they are placed 10y the
stem in water. and also owing to their
! preservative qualities, as they remain
| in good condition indefinitely when
| kept in dry place. To persuade your
I SELF that fairy bread is really sweet and
/ pleasant. just taste small piece of il
raw, and YOU viii soon learn that il il
good and wholesome ms well. \ bunch
OF these plants give more agreeable
| flavor 10 meat sauce than do the French
champignons. II you are so fortunate
as 10 find enough of them 10 make "A
meal very dainty dish can be made by
| trying them and serving them ON toast
| The caps should be cut OIL from the
stems, then thoroughly riuscd and bc
l kept i'm sailed wafer for two Ioure
after which they are in condition 20 be
| prepared FOR the feast of modern fairies
and other mortals.- Washington Star.