The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1906-10-18
THINGS wonTh KNowiNu
ABOUT MUSHROOMS.

ABOUT MUSHROOMS.
In the dark shade OF lofty pine trees
and under spreading oaks tn more open
woods n mushroom IN found so remark
able In color and graceful I'm form that
It's beauty has excited admiration for
hundreds OF years. The color OF Its
bright orange cap and Its chalk white
stem and gills is heightened by the SUR
rounding darkness OF the woods and
presents contrast rs singular as IL is
beautiful.
But beneath the pleasing exterior OF
this brilliant fungus n poison turks 30
fatal to the lives of men and cattle that
u II called the deadly amanita. and In
different countries mothers caution
their children TO bevelre OF Its charms.
AmnnIta muscaria. the deadly. or ny.
amanita, In completely encased In n
fieecc-like covering during the early
stages of It's growth. which makes Il
decidedly egg-shaped In form. AZ the
stem lengthcns this covering either adj
heres In loose patches TO the top OF the
cap or IL slips away and forms n
shcathing to the cup ut the base OF the
stem.
Another inner covering breaks away
In It's turn from the cap rs the mush-
room expands and forms conspicuous
collar about the upper part OF the stem.
The dubious base of the stem and these
ruptured, fieecy coverings are pro-
nounced characteristics which are most
helpful I'm distinguishing this dangerous
fungus from the other varieties OF
mushrooms.
IL is strong. free from pests and
grows to height from fourteen To six
teen inches. In color the cap In some
times bright scarlet, again orange or
yellow or reddish In the center and
light yellow toward the edges. and IL
has noticeable wartlikc patches spread
over the top. ON old plants the color
fades out. and late I'm the season par
;lcularly forms or the deadly amanita
are found which are almost white. The
stem Is easily separated frcm the cup
nj its base.
This mushroom h more generally
known than any OF the other poisonous
species. II has long been used as n
ny poison I'm Europe. and IL takes Its
name. muscarin. from the Latin word
for n ry. It's poisonous effect upon hui
r1an beings begins few hours after
IL has been eaten. The symptoms are
nausea and faintncsa. with cold per-
Epitutluu and stupor. followed In So
we're eases by death from a gradual
weakening of the heart.
\ strong cmctic should be given at
once. and In all cases physician
should bc called. Sulphntc OF atropin
In the only known chemical nntidotc
for this poison. and to save the patient
IL must be promptly administered by
hypodcrmic injections.
The poison may also be absorbed
through the pores OF the skin, and bad
eases ~ poisoning have been produced
by simply holding nm amaniJa In the
closed hand or breathing It's cxhala-
lions In a warm room.
if poisonous mushrooms are packed
in the same box with edible ones the
virus from the poisonous fungi IL alb
sorbcd by the harmless mushrooms,
and they become IA dangerous To eat
as the original offenders.
In certain countries the deadly anna
nita seems to lose ECmc or It's virulCn-
cy. and In the north OF Russia and
parts 81 northeastern Asia IL Is used
i'm the same manner as wine for It's
Intoxicating effects. The mushrooms
are gathered I'm hot weather and are
hung up Ia the air To dry. or they are
sometimes picked fresh and put into
soup or sauces. 4 small amount swai-
lowed whole Is enough to produce "A
days intoNlcation.
Another fatally dangerous member
OF the amanita family Is the death cup
lAmnnita phalloidcs). beautiful
mushroom which also grows In the
woods, especially in pine forests. IL
IL not SO highly colorcd as the deadly
nmanita. and. unlike that mushroom,
IL has a smooth, satiny cap. IL IN
usually white or straw colorcd. but
specimens are found which are light
brown. green, yellow and spotted. The
stem IN white and nearly smooth. ana
the cup at the base OF the stem IL In
varinbly present.
The death cup In even more poison
GUS than tn. deadly aInanita and stands
first among all noxious fungi for it's
poisonous qualities. IL grows IN the
eastern and middle states and In par
ticularly large quantities near the city
OF Washington.
Another amnnita tAmanitn vcrnus),
found in the woods In spring. Is also
very poisonous and may he told by its
color. which is creamy white
throughout
The boleti. Tor instance. have sew
erul varieties which are noncdiblc. al
though many kinds, on the other hand.
make delicious food. The bolcti are
distinguished by spongelike surface
or pores instead OF gills beneath the
cap. The harmful varieties are bitter.
as n rule, and change color to blue or
red when cut or broken. The edible
varieties remain whitc.-Annie Cakes
HupfIuvfnu I'm Ynufh'a (ompnuinu