New-York tribune., 1902-02-16
NATURAL FOOD PRODUCTS,
NCTRITIVE VALUE OF MUSHROOMS OR
S-wHERE TO LOOK
FOR THEM.
FOR THEM

grows IN abundance in nearly all places. and which
is one OF the most valuable natural foods is
summed by too many people in this country In
deed the ignorance respecting mushrooms which
prevails In the United States is far greater than in
many other parts of the world where for centuries
lher nutritious qualities have been appreciated
especially among the poor Mushrooms, in fact are
USED extensively among the dense pauper popua-
tons OF Japan China. parts of Asia and
many of the countries of Europe Foreigners Of
this city notably the Italians large quantities
or dried mushrooms, which have yet found
favor among Americans. and which seldom,
yet to be had in American stores
AS AN INDUSTRY.
So important is the mushroom industry in
tain countries In Europe where fresh ones during
the season and dried other times
the commonest vegetable that inspectors are ap-
pointed whose duty IL is to look mushrooms
displayed for sale and that poisonous kind
ave by any chance introduced. These officers also
give general information cOnco rning the different
varieties. poisonous and edible BY this the
people generally become acquainted with mush-
rooms, and not only excellent foods added to
their limited bills of fare. but hosts of the
find partial or entire support by gathering them.
So highly mushrooms appreciated by the Chi
nese and japanese of the Pacific Coast that tons
are brought to San Francisco annually. both dry
and fresh, for the consumption OF those people
alone.
I'm nearly all Of the forests of tke Northwest
tons upon tons of valuable and nutritious mush-
rooms go to waste annually, either totally unob-
served avoided with distrust lest they toad
stools and consequently poisonOus says l.. T.
Henderson. in bdlletin the subject issued by
the Idaho Experiment Station
MANY a prospeCtor. surveyor hunter in our
vast and unpopulated districts has gone hungry
nay 1t may he. has died from hunger-with food
in great quantities and Of varying degrees of
tritiousness and excellence going to waste about
him! The too common expression. that toadstoOis
are dangerous things. that people don't know any
thing about them and that the safest way is to
let them alone is foolish for utteranCe and
would not need to be mentioned In this connection
did not this opinion receive the sanction of other
wise sensible and educated persons. With
just as much reason can you say that beans cannot
be told from peas, Cabbages from turnps "A child
of ten years. with common powers OF obserVa-
ton to say nothing of adults can be told in few
hours how to distinguish at least dozen species
of edible mushrooms, and, when poisonous species
exist whose look closely resembles that of harmless
species and whose confusion might lead 10 serious
consequences, TO reject all suspicious kinds.
1T is not necessary for mushroom lovers TO
know scientifically all the many kinds in their
neighborhood it is sufficient If they know a dozen
or two for from these they can select kinds that
are accessible and available almost every month
In the season from early spring to late fall
1t should be carefully kept in mind that mush-
rooms or toadstools. IL you prefer the term. are
constantly succeeding one another throughout the
spring summer and fall. The same locality. there
furnished
at one time OF the year may month later pro-
duce poisonous or at least. dsagreeabe and
harmful kinds. So the only safe way of avoiding
danger is know your plants collected, II they
are 10 he cooked. or find out what they are
from some one competent to inform you If you DO
not know them and wish TO try some or all on the
table.
And right here 1t might be pertinent to express
the wonder that more persons are not killed annu-
ally on account of the careless way mushrooms
t1Nn had ms
the carelessness with which different species some
whst resembling one another. are collected and no
care given TO their Identification.
OLD RULES OF NO AVAIL.
"'How am I to know mushroom from toad
stool? is an Oft repeated question. In answer lei
II be distinctly understood that there Is no diHer
ence between toadstool and a mushroom All
mushrooms are toadstools and all toadstools mush-
rooms according to which name YOU prefer Many
peopIe limit the name mushroom 10 the common
field mushroom. AEaricus campester. and consider
all others not possessing the pink gills' Of this
misleading a use of the term, for many OF the the
n the market s such do not belong bel t TO the same
belongs. few OF the tests supposed 10 distinguish
the poisonous from the non poisonous kinds, and
win be given here, while 1t viii be distinctly stated
that not one Of these supposed tests @ Is Of any yane
rooms gr0wn In open ground. never one in the
pink. (0 Eat no mushroom that will dscolor
silver spoon. (V Eat no mushroom which is white
III we should obey the irst injunction We would
the Cortinarii the Peuroti and a host OF others If
the second We would he limited to the field mush
delicious kinds whose gs are red. yellow. white.
or with even shades OF blue and II the third
We would lose the gastronomic pleasures OF many
farmless kinds. some of which do. some do not.
be cut off from the yellow or Boleti the white
mmysfophori m or the red or Yellow Gortinarii as we'll
I;actaril In fact the usually safe rule Avoid all
the stem though an excellent rule in the main is
not not TO be relied upon implicitly. the beautiful
cup. has been the theme of epieures from the time
badge OF the genus AmanIta with a few closely
related and as this genus of plants Includes most
best TO avoid them an. " "
FAVORITE HAUNTs OF THE FUNGI
Mushrooms grow wherever other plants grow
Some genera delight I'm the open fields. some i'm
moist dense woods, some on old stumps and logs
some on railroad embankments, while some pIebeian
but delicious species grow on manure piles and rot
ten straw. The field Agarc. or mushroom loves
the grassy pasture. especially when browsed by
cattle and enriched by their dropplngs the two
species OF Coprinus cling at least in Idaho almost
exclusively to railroad cuts and emba nkments or
to places where engines stand considerably and
cnders are thrown out; the Ivory Hygrophorus
and other species of this genus like pine and fir
woods; the Hyphoomas found about rotten
stumps and logs; the Boleti like thick FIR forests
pine woods, even hills woods; the
Hedgehog mushrooms surprise us az they almost
light up the dark forests when standing erect upon
or hanging down from fallen logs: the Puffbals
love open ground and commonly associated
with the field Agaric the Morels seek retirement In
woods or In oopses along our hills. The mushroom
is a rapid grower and both needs and contains
much water. We therefore conclude by saving
that dry rocky or sandy places about the only
which do not produce mushrooms while they
flourish best in cool moist woods and along creeks
and rivers
Besides their appeal to the palate these inter
esting plants have much attraction for the one
who collects them merely for study, on account of
their strange and beautiful forms Though many
dress themselves in the veriest Quaker drabs and
grays. they all repay study with the mcroscope