The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-02

gray on top. and II has a short stem with q
white. woody ring around ii. The uncuunl
gills are n delicate pink at first. but later they
turn to a brownish DurLlc. never white. one
important thing 10 remember is that It never
grows in woods. but always in fields. and pref
eiasiy N pastures. where cove or ,heep nave
In such places. from August 10 October. one
may &c almost sure of finding a good crop OF
field mushrooms. II there has been rain.
The field mushroom has a poor relation that
Is often avoided because IL Is not exactly like
IS more popular relative. This is the horse
little larger than tie field mushroom. and It Is
pure white on top, IT NAV grow on the eur-
ders OF woods or the border OF garden beds:
"Wheneysr a large perasGl.shnped mush;;
stem. swollen at the base. With ring tia;
will slip un and down. It must be the parasol
mqshroomi and il Jan be eaten win perfect
from a writer on mushrooms. 1t letters to the
Parasol Agartc, AGGricns proccrns, Sometimes
called the shaggy mushroom from the scales
which cover Its parasOl top.
The CoprinuS coDlntus. is an edible Mushroom
much used by the English for catsup.. 1t has
n rich Juice. but it is only within the last few
years that IT has been recognized as an edible
in this country.
OF all the poisonous mushrooms. those be-
longing 10 the group called Amanita were de-
scribcd as the most interesting because some
of the srecies resemble so treachprously some
edible species Of other groups. The one TIA
Is commonly mistaken for the edible field mush-
room is the Common spring mushroom. imam
tth Z hfN ~ - NlIlf III oNtI. ' q vi II Z
gilis. aad It makes its appearance in the spring
time instead of the autumn. growing in woods
instead otin pastures and fields.
Another point which the lecturer said should
b" noted in This AZ well as in other species OF
this group, is that there Is a sheath at the base
of the stem-the remains OF the volva. Some
mushrooms. when young. are completely COW
cred with n membrane like n delicate egg she'll.
When this ruptures. a portion of II remains AZ
the bottom ana often sticks &c the cap in lit tic
warty eScrescences. Not all mushrooms with
n vulva are poisonous. however. although Il Is
wise. as u rule. for the uninitilted to leav" a
specimen alsne II IL is provided with this
sheath ut the base of the stem.
In this group of so-called deadly Amarita.
whose very name Is a symbol of death. there
are several deltciousiy edible kinds. Oa- ~
these IS called CUsar's mushroom. or -fmONifd
fuHari. II IS sometimes called the "~pOultvy
mushroom" from its eGC-lik" apDeararccwhen
IL first pushes its way out Of tie ground. Tho
AranitRs all spring from a Yolva and have 4
dubious base. a combination nf characteristics
which constitute II danger signal.
The Fl mushroom was referred TO rs one Of
the deadiiest. Magnificent - look nj. with its
tall. straight stem and har rinC cell. its large
symmetrical. orange or yellow cap. an It's pure
white Cills. II IL a much neatcr. cleaner fungus
than many Of tho edible kind. which perhaps
explains how so many Ot the Amanitas work
destruction they Rrc so attractive in their ap-
r"arance. a poisonous alkaloid called mus.
calinc Is extracted from the caps.