Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-10-12
iitois OF kennebec journal


mushrooms in such abundance that an
acquaintance with some If tho snecies
plentiful in this city and vicinity is we'll
worth "hiie. But a word of warning is
III ofuer' as two very dangerous species
are apuhoaht. Most cases of m1sh-
room poisoning. which result fatally.
are due to single genus. Amanita.
ana OF TINS genus. at least. two species
are very common about Augusta and
ale in season throughout the entire sum-
n:er and fall. One of these. Amanita
phalloides. commonly known as dead
~ Amanita, death cap. etc. is n pure
white mushroom of attractive annear
ance with nothing in either taste OF
smell TO hint at danger, although a
Single specimen is sufficient to cause
the deatn OF an entire family. 1t. I'M
fortunately, closely resembles the
smooth skinned Lepiota, a harmless
ana delicious mushroom which during
the last few weeks has been abundant
in the fields and even on lawns. Both
have white gills and stems and are
Dubious at the base but there are these
points of difference the Amanita has
Il cap-shaped socket at the base and z
separable from it; the Lepiota has no
trace of cup at the base and the ring
is thickened at it's outer edge and
easily seDarable from the stem, often
becoming detached in the more mature
specimens. Ii is safe rule never to
couch any mushroom which has any
appearance Of a cup at the base and
unless absolutely sure of the species.
avoid mushrooms with white gills
They may be all right but a mistake
is likely to have fatal consequences.
The other deadly species. Amanita
muscaria. or fly Amarh ia. 50 called f rom
it's juice having been made use Of as a
fly poison. is Il very handsome mush-
room. varying in color from deep
reddish orange 10 pale yellow and hav-
ing white scurfy spots scattered over
the cap. Its stem and gills are white
ami IL has scaly. dubious base. but
the cap il not separablc as in the dead
~ Amanita. 1t grows chiefly in the
woods ana is very common in nearly
al the woods about the city. Their"
are several other mushrooms Of fire.
quent occurrence which are sufficiently
poisonous to cause serious disturbance
Of III" digestive system but as their
effect Is temporary. mistakes in re-
gard q them are moi attended with
the same risk rs in the case Of the
Amanita. Most Of them are sufficient
~ unattractive either in taste or smell
10 furnish their own danger signals. No
general rule for distinguishing poison
Gus mushrooms can be given but if the
Amanitas are once known and al
mushrooms having disagreeable tastes
or odors or which turn blue on being
broken, are avoided the amateur in
mushrooms can feel tolerably safe in
testing the edible qualities Of the
spe linens which he is fortunate enough
to secure.
A description Of a few Of the edible
mushrooms now in season may be Of
service to those Interested.
The common meadow mushroom
tAgaracus campester) has pink sills,
hanging to dark brown in the mature
specimens.
The color of the cap varies from
pure white to a brownish tint. This
mushroom is now very abundant and
as no mushroom with pink gills chang
ing to brown is known to he poisonous
this species is perfectly safe. Within
the last week ! have found he de-
licious shaggy name tcoprinus coma
tue) a mushroom which is easily
recognized by its form which resem-
bles closed umbrella and the shaggy
surface Of its cap which is white.
streaked or shaded with brown. The
ellis are white changing to pink and
then black as the plant natures. 1t
grows in clusters and can b. con-
fused With TO dangerous species.
The little brown mushroom. common
on lawns and among short Grass,
which becomes of leathcry texture
when dry and revives again under
moisture is the fairy ling tMaraSmlus
oreades) and anyone who has tested
its edible qualities will not allow the
little brown caps to go to waste. ms
species can b dried for winter use.
Puff balls arc also plentiful and no
speCies of pug ball is known 70 be
harmful. They hould be eaten only
when the flesh is white and firm. As
soon as X assumes a yellowish tint and
begins 10 grow sporGy ;hey are 70
longer fit for food The best way Of
cooking them is to Gu: in slices and fry
in butter.
The elm tree mushroom, which grows
on stumps and decayins trunks OF elms
il also in season. but must he taken
from the tree while young as il soon
haco,,,o. touch. T. l.. s.