Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1907-06-27
JUST HOW YOU MAY
TELL MUSHROOMS
SOME VARIETIES EASILY IDENTi
FLED THAT MAY BE EATEN.
GOOD FOODGOES TO WASTE
One Hundred Kinds of the Edible
Product, 1t Is Asserted, Grow In
the United States-No Region Ex-
empt-In Meadow and Wood All
About Us.

The scientists tell US that tons of
rich, wholesome food, neglected and
Iunappreciated, decay each year in our
fields and forests, says the Kansas
ICity Star. This wasted nutriment is
in the form of fungus growths-mush-
rooms-at once the delight of epicures
and the terror of those who have
made bugaboo of "toadstools.' 1T
Is estimated that more than 1OO va
rieties OF edible mushrooms are to be
found in the United States, and no
one species is so well known the coun-
try over as to be generally eaten. In
the vicinity of Kansas City there are
dozens OF varieties of which it is safe
to say not more than two are recog-
lnized as esculent.
An occasional death from mushroom
poisoning and general lack of knowl-
edge of the characteristics of fungus
growths have combined to create a
widespread distrust of this delicacy.
AS consequence, many a delectable
tidbit goes to waste, while fearful
humanity walks about it or over it,
or the mushrooms to be found in
this vicinity, seven varieties may be
NAMED that are entirely safe" in
that they may be readily identified
from brief description. The group
of seven includes the morel {morchella
esculenta), the green russua. the Duff
ball, the pasture Mushroom, campes-
iris (meadow mushroom), shaggy
name and the edible boletus Cooletus
edulis). Some one of the varieties
may be found in Geld or wood frxm
the first warm days of spring until fate
autumn, and all may be eaten with en-
joyment and safety
Beware of This Variety.
1t may be well at the outset to de-
scribe the chief among poisonous
mushrooms-th innocentappearin
fungus that has caused the majority CT
Fatalities among the careless. It
i bears but little resemblance to any of
the varieties enumerated here as ed
bic, but has some characteristics that
should be known by all mushroom
eaters. This deadly mushroom is the
amanita, of the family of fungi be r
ing a gill or frin about the stem. It's
principal distinctive feature is a clp
Or socket in which the base of the
/ stem rests. and which is generally
hidden under the ground This cup
is the remnant of an outer envelope
or volva, which incased the mushroom
In an early stage of its growth, and
which was ruptured as the fungus de-
veloped. Any socket at the base of
the stem is dangerous and should be
avoided. There are several pieces of
amanitoe, varying in color. but the
cup Or socket is a distinctive mark of
all. Each of the varieties also bears
on it's stem a we'll" though this Is
not peculiar to the poisonous varieties
This veil. frill or ring original con-
nected the pileus or cap of the mush-
room with the stem, and was torn and
broken as the cap expanded. Remem-
Der The cup at the base of the st I'M.
Look for IL. 1t may be beneath the
ground but it is of enough i'm
lportance TO warrant search wheE
one is hesitating about plucking a
doubtful specimen.
Some That Are Harmless.
The first of the edible list, the
moreh is the most familiar fungus
growth in this locality and the only
variety that is freely eaten when
gathered in the fields or woods. It
bears no resemblance to any other
lspecies and is unexcelled as table
ldelicacy. This mushroom has an
loval shape and Is pale yellowish
brown in colcr, varying to graylsh
green when in it's prime. Its surface
is deeply honeycombed with pits or
ldepressions that give it something of
the appearance of coarse sponge
Both the mushroom and its stem are
hollow
The green russula mentioned among
the easily identified edible vae'eties
belongs TO a group bearing the name
lseveral of which are delicious as
food. but containing one that is deadly
THE emetio mushroom (rIssuia
lemeti,a) The pc isonous speci,.s.
however, Is readily distinguished from
the esculent, especially the species
lmentioned--the green rlssula The
/