New-York tribune., 1902-05-21
MUSHROOM POSSIBILITIES.

In its secOndary-and perhaps not less famil
iar-sense the word mushroom has derogatory
and cOntemptuouS application. II means some
thing of sudden growth. Of brief stability and OF
little value. In its primary sense. too often
unappreciated II means something of excep-
tional value. and suggests TO the informed vast
possibilities OF pleasure and OF profit There
are few foods in the world more nourishing and
more delicious and at the same time more neg
lected than the fungi, and Of these the best are
the mushrooms. They are perhaps largely neg
lected because of a popular but unfounded fear
of poison. There is indeed a too prevalent
notion that all fungi are poisonous save one
edible mushroom. Much nearer the truth is
it that all are innocuous and edible save one
poisonous toadstool. Unfortunately the one con
spicuously poisonous toadstool resembles very
closely in appearance one of the very best Of the
edible mushrooms There are however points
of radical difference which should make it i'm
possible for intelligent persons 10 mistake one
for the other. That may he said Of the fungi
growing in their wild native state. When they
cultivated the danger of poison is, of course,
altogether eliminated.
recent consular report from Paris gives n
detailed account of the mushroom plantations
about Sceaux from which the Paris market is
chiefly supplied. These plantations are in under
ground caves ana tunnels, the galleries. OF aDan-
doned quarries. Such places are used because
in them mushroom culture can he carried on all
the year round. because they can be had cheaply
and because It is thought mushrooms grown in
them, in utter darkness, are superior in flavor
TO those grown in the open air and light The
first two reasons are valid. but the last will be
widely challenged Those who have once tasted
the rich. spicy flavor OF the large wild American
mushroom have little use for the tiny, pale
buttons which are known as French mush-
rooms" In the open air in warm weather or In
a dimly lighted cellar at all seasons the mush-
room may be grown to perfection, large in size
and delicious in flavor. The fungi which thickly
dot innumerable old pasture fields hint shrewdly
at the possibilities of mushroom culture AS for
the profits, the report mentioned puts the cost
of mushroom culture in the caves of Sceaux at
80 cents square yard and the returns
mushrooms at Is cents pound-at % cents,
net profit of only 63 cents square yard. Even
that means more than $4,000 acre. The
Consul General estimates that with improved
methods the profits in America might be in
creased to nearly So yard, a figure which
would make mushroom garden more valuable
than a gold mine.
The late William Hamilton Gibson used to
say that fungi were our most valuable and
most neglected food supply. and that almost
every mushroom, or bit OF fungus a dead
| tree stump, was worth many times Its weight
in the best beefsteak. Enthusiast he
thought to be upon this subject he practically
demonstrated the truth of his enthusiasms.
There can he no question that in mushrooms
and other kinds of fungi may be found food
supply at once delicious enough to tickle the
/ daintiest palate, sufficiently nOurishng and
| hearty" 10 sustain the most vigorous physical
! labor, and cheap enough to be within reach of
! all. To-day mushrooms are regarded as high
| priced luxury for the rich mans table. They
! should be in the daily bill of fare of the wage
Garner of most moderate means. In all other
respects they are worthy to rank with bread
and meat. and they should not be permitted to
outrank these In cost In the intelligent pro-
duction Of them there is a possibility of fine
profit. and at the same time of making a most
! desirable and welcome addition to the food of
! the people.