New-York tribune., 1897-01-17
WASTED FOOD.
STUDIES OF THE BOSTON MYCOLOGICAL
CLUB

STUDIES OF THE BOSTON MYCOLOG1CAL
CLUB
From The American Kitchen Magazine.
During the last two three years there has been
n great increase In the amount OF attention slven
to the value OF fungi as food. For many years
few enthusiast sciea.inc bc,anists IKE Pro
Peck OF Albany. y. V. or mycophagists IKE
oaph,d OF pHaddoneid nfmI 'S JSaye perssteny expert
mented on the edbility OF fungi and by letters ana
articles in various periodicals. well as by other
publications have endeavored TO get people gener-
ally follow their example. In Great Britaln anu
thromghou, the oGnnent ha Gnr the season dry
in the winter. and form familiar ana esscn,ia en
part of the food supply OF the people nels uiuod @
The poor Immigrants from the other side OF the
Atlantic particularly from Italy, have not been
slow in discovering and making use or the veIy
abundant crop of fungi TO be had FOR me pckims
everywhere throughout our country. But even tnese
cxiles from a fungus-eating land RECOGNIZE thc
value of only few kinds They gather the Bol,, ,,,
and dry them for winter use they compete WIN
the men who from Angus; on make the rounds oi
the pastures to gather the common meadow mus Munn
heaps and waste land among the tin cans ashns
and burdock bushes, every button even the small
est. OF the autumn supply or 'Shaggymahes OF
"liorsetails'
AMERICANS ARE AFRAID
On the other hand native Americans as Dr
Farlow. professor of cryptigamic botany IN iiar
ward University. has said. ARE not otten fungus ,
eaters for apart from their dread of being pol
soned fungi not to their taste especlaliy wren
submitted 10 the treatment OF the Ordinary n AMER
can cook There is however. a constantly lhcrens-
ing class of well-to-do Americans who are begin
ming TO make use of our native fungi ior the tap1o &
and they frequently ask for information as 10 tne
means Of distinguishing the edible from the poison
Species
In Boston In the summer of 1875. there were
many letters to the papers from people wishing 10
know how they could find help in the study Soon
n few men conceived the notion OF displaying the
better-known fungi at the free public exhibitions of
fruit and flowers held every Saturday through the
summer by the Massachusetts horticultural Soce-
ty This society cordially seconded the proposal! as
well another to give houseroom on SatuIaay iot
q meeting of those who might wish to talk about
the fungi exhibited. That these people should AT
once recognize the Importance OF permanent as
sociation is Il simple matter to understand
In consequence of the suggestions made by
W. c. Bates and others. favored by Captain Julius
A. Palmer. long known as an eater OF fungi
more gentlemen and one lady met on august III y:
was voted that those present should unite in the
formation of an association to be called the Boston
The officers chosen were: President. Julius A.
Palmer jr. vice-president. William C. Bates; secre-
tary and treasurer. Hollis Webster
AS stated in the constitution. the objects OF the
club are to bring together all those Interested eco
nomicay or scientifically in edible fungi; 10 study
edible mushroo and toadstools ard those noxious
and poisonous kinds which r.ay be mistaken for
them; to collect and disseminate all valuable IN
formation concerning them; to arouse wider APP
probation of the valve of cheap and abundant
neglected. and by exhibitions. lectures and publca,
tions to make easy and certain the recognition oi
the few fungi that are poisonous and of the many
that are delicious and substantial food
The club hopes further to gather IN regard 10 m tne
habitat season and distribution Of the fungus nor
particularly of New England. information that may
year in order that the membership might be large
DELICIOUS MEALS NEGLECTED.
Since It's formation the club. with rapidly grow
ing membership now about Two hundred has been
exceedingly active on the lines laid down During
oIis fungi have been displayed at the weekly exhibit
,ions of the Horticultural Society So far as posi-
bic with surety. each kind has been named and its
character stated In this way hundreds OF species
have been brought together where they could be
and by those who wish TO know what fungi 20 ear
spd %ns sG yS @ the In soer, EI soy
pointed three prize days for mushrooms. IN July.
awarding prizes for the best collections Moreover.
they have generously allowed the club the use OF
The attendance at these exhibitions and meetings
has been large and interested. Many have been the
gence on learning that for years they have had de-
licous dinners and suppers growing neglected at
o~. VIE Ne on SaturdaT pointing TO IA puffl,all as big
az "A watermelon that lay one of the platiers.
'Why. my boy found one Of those in the barnyard
right by the watering trough ana smashed smash 1t WIN @
of water. and then we wouldn't let the morse orihK
out of the pail. for fear he'd be poisoned .,uor
characteristic WAYS Many went away with an in
that would last until they could tell what going
or in the city to their friends AT home; but many
back eager for Information and guidance.
Students and and then specialist In science
also found their 10 be Interested in the
collections OF the club A lisi OF species exhibited.
If il could be accurately made. would give fairly
complete account of the fungi most common about
Boston. specially during the wet season this
year species ordinarily rare were found in
comparative abundance As an instance Of this
may be mentioned that curious fungus with CON
centric gills Cycomyces grconii. This WAS
ported from various places ana tHhlolleu seNeiH
times.
Frequently in connection with the exhibitions,
talks were given. illustrated by the fungi them
selves The distinctive characteristics OF the vari
Gus species particularly of the dangerous Amanita
group. pointed Out again and again. InStruc-
lions repeatedly given as 10 the habitat of the
more desirable edible species. well as 10 the best
methods of preparing and cooking them
COOKING EXPERIMENTS
Particular care has been taken to show that the
popular rules for guidance in distinguishing edible
from poisonous toadstools entirely faacious
and unsafe The traditional notions about peeling
high color blackoning Of silver spoons and the like
have been held up TO criticism and ridiculc and in
dvidual knowledge OF each species OF ana for itself
has been insisted on.
In addition to the elementary and sometimes
technical information necessary for those new TO
the subject incidental notes Of personal expert
often volunteered by one in the audience. In
this way the meetings have been than in
structive: they have been entertaining.
Toward the end OF the season, in October and
Move mber Horticultural Hall was practically
abandoned q Saturdays 10 the club. and talks.