The Washington herald., 1906-11-12
TONS OF MUSHROOMS WASTED
Many Varieties Native to America
Better Than Imported.
Two Species Are Found In Abund-
Vicinity of Washington.

While tons upon tons Of them. avail
able almost the year around for the
mere picking. are native TO almost all
parts Of the United States. America in
sists upon importing French, Italian, and
Chinese mushrooms. paying from 50 cents
TO H.25 pound under the impression
they are more delectsble than those found
in the fields and woods Of America.
There are scores and scores Of varieties,
and each has It's own especial favor. and
all are more delicious than the button
mushrooms that form the biggest part
Of the importations. From the Middle
Western sponge mushroom. the most
luscious OF ALL 20 the puff ball of the
meadows. is a far cry. but the great va
riety is because Of the different seasons
AT which they are found. and there is No
time Of the year, except when there IS
snow on the ground, or>it is frozen. that
mushrooms cannot be found.
Yet the price continues high in the res
taurants. and the citizen of average
means ambles along his uHinterestine
way. fOTsWearing ordering mushrooms be-
draining OF having them in his home
while be could revel IN them from early
spring until late fan II he was so In
cliEed
At this particular season Of the year
there are two varieties 10 De found usual
" in the pine woods Of this section OF
the country. They are the Tricholoma
equestre and Tricholoma transnuitares
These are two varieties that were dis
covered last year by Fred. J. BraendIe
1919 New Hampshire avenue and report
cd to the Department Of Agriculture
which took the opportunity OF thanking
the discOveTer for calling the attention
Of the public 20 still another variety OF
this edible fungi.
one need not fear getting t0adstools
instead Of mushrooms at this season Of
the year. as the poisonous varieties dis
appear after the frost comes, and it is
easy 10 distinguish them from mushrooms
This species is nearly sulphur-colored in
all its parts, has a fleShy cap. short
thick stem. and the cap surface peels OF
better than any other
IL can be found from now or. until
Christmas, and every one can have theiI
fill for the mere picking OF them. As
stated they grow in the pine woods and
are sometimes hard TO locate. but when
one is found, a meal is found for they
grow In patches OF Fifty or more
This species is different from Others
heretofore known. in that they can be
preserved. They can be dried out over
night on a radiator and kept until ready
10 be eaten. when a thorough soaking in
clean water renders them soft again.
Mr.. Braendle has prepared several speci-
mems ard sent them TO colleges and 20
European importers 1t is believed this
variety will ultimately succeed the one
now in so common use in restaurants.
During the summer months families
having access to the meadows and woods
need never want for nourishing food. no
matter how high the price Of meat may
go. if they would but familiarize them
selves with the appearance and the haunts
of mushrooms People who have given
the subject attention state that thou
sands Of tons of them go to waste
throughout the United States every year
when. If properly used. they would mean
a saving to the ordinary family through
the reduction of meat bills. as the fungus
food IS an admirable and palatable sub
st,tute for flesh.
Mr.. Braendle picked quantity OF the
new variety yesterday afternoon in a
short time. back of Pinehurst