The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1902-03-21
NJ L. WALLER,
ARCHITECT and SUPERINTENDENT.
Correct estimates on an classes of
buildings Satisfaction
Guaranteed.
sos Main St. TT. Worth, Texas
EDIBLE MUSHROOMS.
the Bad-Some Toothsome
Recipes.


There is no woodland or old pas
I ture the world over that does not
/ produce one or more varieties of
fungi. Though some of those are poi
sonous and should be avoided, the
majority are edible-edible, but sell
dom eaten. This may sound like q
paradox. but every year tons of nu-
tritious fungus food go 20 waste in
our forests and fields, not because
their habitat is unknown, but o1i ae-
count of the little value attached to
them as foods, says the Washington
Star.
Probably the best known of all ed
ible fungi is the meadow mushroom.
Whenever crossing a rich pasture one
is sure to see small punches of these
white, possibly slightly brownish.
caps, strewn about in a hit or miss
fashion. While the mushroom is
fresh the gills are beautiful pink
color, but as soon as the plant grows
old OF vary dry they turn a deep
brown. The white flesh of the cap
is inclined to become pink when
broken Meadom mushroom has an
enticing fragrance. and is usually
fried with butter. though it can be
stewed IN milk. The batter should
be favored with spice, parsley, sweet
herbs. salt and pepper. This mush-
room is an agreeable adjunct to soup
or meat when cut up into piecea and
cooked with the same.
The next best-known species is the
fairy ring champipnon. This variety
also grows ;n meadows. pastures and
along the roadside. but never in
woods Instead of coming up in
punches, the plants form a ring or
half circle. hence its common name.
The cap is colored bright buff and
the gills, which grow very wide apart,
are creamy white. 1t is somewhat
tough, and when dried can be kept
for years without losing its flavor,
which is particularly delicious.
The most esculent of mushrooms is /
the milk-bearing group. Perhaps the I
choicest member of this genus IS Lac I
tarius Deliciosus, which is easily dis
by the orange or red-col- /
oTed milk that it exudes on being /
broken. Strange to say, the bruised /
parts turn a dull green on exposure
TO the atmosphere. rs does also the
milk. The flesh is firm and very
Juicy. Its habitat is swampv woods.
specially fir and pine. The fiavo-
resembles that of kidney stew Bak-
ing is perhaps the be st process for
this mushroom, since the Juice can
thus be retained. Its greatest use
E for making rich sauces.
Though the genus Morehella in
.i1des very few species, most authori-
ies say that all are edible. The best
If them, however, is Morahella Eseu-
enta, which grows upon short stem
md has a large, hollow cap. deeply
'itted- In -assy spots on the bor-
lers of fields or raised rieef banks
{ may be found in April and MAY.
The numbers may be increased BY
trewing wood ashes over the ground.
4fter thoroughly washing they
hould be put into a frying pan with
epper, salt, parsley and small piece
{ ham. and cooked not less than one
our, little broth being poured in
OCCASIONALLY so that the mixture shall
ever get dry When done each mush-
oom should be served with egg on &
uttered toast.
One fungus has been designated the
poor mans beefsteak.r because of y
be similarity between the taste os /.
and that OF meat At first a mere q
'sy pimple that may BE found any
me euring the summer season. il
ro'Es from tile rotten bark Of old