Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-23
FACTS ABOUT MUSHROOMS.
Care That Should Be Used In Select
ing These Toothsone Fungi.

Care That Should Be Used In Select
ing These ToothsoAe Fungi.
The season having returned when Wild
growing meadow mushrooms are again sold
in considerable quantity in the markets and
stores. attention should be called not only
to the careless and unclean manner in
which they are handled and offered for
sale, but also to the fact that many Of
these mushrooms are too far advanced in
their growth to be healthy, and are at best
not serviceable for the dainty dishes that
might be prepared with them. To many it
must seem strange that any one can be
tempted to prepare these black, bruised and
soiied things for the table. 1t is not to De
wondered why so few believe in the fair
ness of the praise that Is bestowed upon
fungi, and that 1t is deemed absurd to call
them 1.-The food of the gods" We would.
however, become more favoraby impressed
with some species, at least, If q chance was
offered us to see them in a stage when
they are truly sweet and healthy, and If
they were presented to us, not exactly on a
gilt salver, but on a clean and neat tray,
be it wood tin or paper. Parties who
gather them should not bring away half
the farm-that is. sand clay, hay and other
foreign matter attached to them. They
should know how to discriminate between
plants that are young and those that are
old. and also know that these pink leated
fungi are at their best as long as a veil
covers yet partly their delicately colored
UNDERMINING. The vender should have them
on sale assorted according to size and age,
and exhibited on trays as already sug-
gested, stem, or, rather, stump. upward, as
the stem should be cut off below the ring
as soon as gathered. The promiScuous
packing In baskets OF mushrooms that have
not been cleaned or assorted should no
longer be continued 1t is advisable that
every purveyor of household who is in
any way inclined to make use of mush-
rooms at some future time should purchase
basketful of them as they now are. The
amount of money thus expended will be
well spent If he takes the trouble to exam
inc each and every one carefully, and notes
their color, form, odor and condition before
beginning their dissection. The first opera
ton should be to cut off the stem just be-
low the ring. This ring, which is part of
veil. is peculiar TO the meadow mushroom
ana many other species, and almost always
present except in old plants. If this cut
on the side of the cap is clean, smooth and
white, no further care need be taken; the
sample is sure to be healthy, even if the
UNDERLYING should be dark, instead of pink.
Should, however. this cut be spotted or
furrowed, it will be necessary to spit the
cap through the certer and examine ii the
meaty part is healthy or not. There Is no
need to state that mushrooms infested by
larvae or magSOtS, or partly eaten by Siugs
or insects, are unfit for food. In splitting
the lower part of the stem vertically
through its center, you may discover that
1t Is, II not alive with larvae, at least filled
with coarse trained substance which is
nothing else but thousands of eggs of lar
vac, deposited here by some insect or
other, and now nearly Matched out. In
older plants the larvae eat their way with
great rapidity upW ard into the cap and in
wade the entire plant. This is a reason
why the very short-stemmed and thick
skinned meadow fungus. peculiar to the
parks of Washington, is so soon completely
invaded by larvae. At the end of such an
plants were healthy and how many not
and the necessity of this advice to Use
greater care in selecting fungi for the mar
ket will be apparent. In most European
cities they have not only careful daily in
spection of all the mushrooms that are Of
fercd for sale, but they have also stringent
laws and regulations governing their sale
1t is generally il sisted that all fungi, Of
whatever species they may be, shall be
placed in the stalls on trays, each plant
side by side and not piled one on the top
of the other, and that they shall be turned
in such a fashion that their identity can be
ascertained at glance. The stores are
obliged to have the entire stock of fungi
on exhibition in window, so that they can
be seen from the street. Passers-by who
might detect anything wrong usually vol
unteer to call attention to the matter. After
certain hour of the day all perishable
plants not sold are confiscated by the au-
thorties and destroyed. The Importance
of such regulations and the influence their
observance exercises on the public mind
cannot be overeStmated. When people are
aware that this new article of food, though
strange and novel it may be. has been care
fully examined BY experts and passed the
scrutiny of many other persons, they no
longer hesitate to make Use of it. They
will enjoy the feas. without fear of un-
pleasant consequences Some may contend
that the laws of foreign countries are not
applicable here, that they have an odor of
antiquity or tyranny about them, but we
will soon discover that If a greater demand
for mushrooms is made and many species
are sold. some laws will have to be enacted
by which the public health can be safe
guarded. In the method that should best
be followed in this country to enhance the
value and preserve the quality of mush-
rooms used for general consumption. our
intelligence will guide us in the matter
seconded by an Unborn disposition to per-
petualiy improve the things of today and
to increase the material wel-being of the
nation. All lovers OF mushrooms must
have heartfelt wish that this mean and
reprehensible way of selling their fayorite
food should cease forever. Connoisseurs
epicures and other fastidious people on the
subject in question will soon rise in our
midst. The science to know and the art to
eat mushrooms will in this country not
much longer remain privilege of the Bos-
tonlans alone. FRED J. BRAENDLE