The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-03-04
MUSHROOMS AND ToADsTooLs

How to dist nguish mushrooms rom toadstools Is secret that. if 1t could be succinctly written out once for all. would be almost priceless.
 Unfortunately, no invariable rule has ever been discovered. The only sure test of the edibility of fungus is to eat 1t. / 1t is, however. fact generally pc lieved by fungologists that the, edible formerly regarded, are the rule; that great majority of our common wild iungl are at least harmless, if not positively wholesome and nutritious
 The popular tests, like most supersu- tons, are worse than useless, for they are of'en treacherous and deceptive. the skin peels off easily, 1t is "a musn- room: If 1t will not peef toadstoo' therefor, deadly.
 Is that so? Let us see. A majority Of the most delicious and healthful species will not peel at all under any amount of coaxing The deadly amanita peeis with cheerful accommodation, ana also offers an inviting odor and pleasant taste whnn raw, thereby controvertng an other popular belief that taste and smell may be a safe guide.
 As to boiling with silver spoon. thls superstition Is probably more often re- sponsible than any other for the coroner ,,s verdict, Died from eating toadstoois m mistake for mushrooms"
 The common mushroom (Agricus cam pestris} is very safe and desirable spec imen to eat when identified. but there are one or two others which resemble him rather closely and which are by no means so friendly to the amateur.
 The campestris always grow thickly over cultivated meadow land and grassy fields. especially those where animais have been at pasture
 There are never found In woods. on banks. roadsidcs or tree trunks. They usually grow singly, but are occasionally found in clusters.
 A very safe species for the amateur to experiment with is the Corprinus mica ceus, which grows everywhere all sum- mer long, It is among the commonest ot the edible specie. It generally thrives on decaying wood.
 An old stun-p Is one of its favorte h )m.,s Around the stump will spring up dozens ot this little plant, growing in clus.s:s like haif-opened Japanese para sois ,d together at the handles.
 Along the sidewalks of city streets. or in pa ,k yards where tree has been cut down they spring up in quantities. Even In pasture lands some of the corprinus family will g found.
 Nor Is the mushroom easily mistaken for al enemy. 1t has white, fragile hollow stem two or three inches long. The cap is pale whitish bun or tawny color. with darker color on top. It Is bell shaped when young. opening wider when cd The shining particles on top that glsten in the sun like mica, give 1t the name "micaceus," or "glistening mush- room"
 The gills or little ribs underneath are the distingui shing features. They are al- most black with dark spots, except when the plant is young. To be sure that one has the right thing 1t Is well to look at q number of them growing around the same stump. If the older ones are ex- banding their umbrellas and have black ribs which leave a smutty mark on the fingers and the smaller ones are but half opened with pinkish. purplish gills, 1t is tine genuine glistening corprinus and you may load up your basket and go home and enjoy your meal.