The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1908-11-20

"ie pouJ onSet large part VI Tue an
nual cost of food for the fowls in
better crops.
In experiments with larger breeds
the cost of feeding was greater. The
cost of feeding Plymouth Rocks aver
aged $1.15 per fowl and of Wyandottes
$l.U0. This extra cost is largely offset
when the fowls are marketed, the
larger breeds bringing more than the
small breeds.
In answer to an inquiry relative to
the way in which to tell the difference
between the edible mushroom and the
poisonous variety, the station replied:
"There are so many different species
of mushrooms, and they are SO nearly
like the poisonous varieties, that it is
impossible for an inexperienced person
to detect the difference. Botanists do
not usually recognize any difference be-
tween mushrooms and tOadstools. The
best way is 8, learn to recognize GER
tain species Of edible mushrooms, even
though the number be few. A common
variety, known botanically as 'Agarieus
campestrias L., is not poisonous, and
by the following description you may
be able to recognize it:
"The stem is cylindrical, or tapers
little toward the lower end Near its
upper end is sort of collar, usually
termed ring which encircles it.
This is very delicate, white like the
stem, and of very thin, satiny texture.
The circular, expanded disk into which
the stem fits is called the cap The
surface is sometimes white, although
sometimes brownish, and usually COW
cred by thin layer of delicate threads.
The flesh or inner portion is more COM
pact, and is white also. Numerous thin
plates, or gills, are on the under side
of the cap, which radiate from near the
stem to the margin of the cap. When
the plant is very young the gills are
first white, but soon become dark,
pink color, and in age changes to dark
brown. The substance of the stem is
less compact at the center, but the stem
is not really hollow, though in some in
stances there are slight indications of
it. This mushroom win be found in
sod, where shade is plentiful.
1T is probable that the mushroom
responsible for a majority of the deaths
from eating this plant is the Amanita
phalloides. By novice, it might cas-
lily be taken for the Agaricus campes-
iris. However, the former usually oc-
ours in the woods, while the edible va
riety just described occurs in open
places. Professor G. F. Atkinson, of the
botany division of the Cornell univer-
sity agricultural experiment station, de-
scribes the Amanita phalloides as fol
lows:
cit is pure white, and possesses an
annulus or collar, but what is most
important the base of the stem rests in
a cup-like envelope called the volva
The pileus in this form is
smooth, viscid to the touch, and pure
white, as is also the annulus, stem and
volva, though the latter is soiled by
particles of earth. The stem is nearly
cylindrical, tapering slightly from the
bulbous base. 1t is hollow, or stuffed
with cottony, mycelial threads. The
gills are usually pure white, even in
age, and are nearly free from the stem.
When decaying the plant emits very
disagreeable odor. From Washington
State college, Pullman.
An inquiry which will be of interest
to fruit growers of southwestern Wash
ington and northwestern Oregon was
referred to the department of horticul-
ture. 1t follows:
"Kindly give me some advice con.
cerning the growing Of raspberries and
blackberries under the conditions found
in southwestern Washington. I would
be obliged to you for information con
corning the growing of plums, cherries
and apples in this region.
Professor w. S. Thornber replied:
"You will have no difficulty in
growing raspberries and blackberries in
your part of the country, providing you
use good judgment in selecting your va.
rieties and in planting. If the low land
is well drained you had better plant
blackberries, but if the land is not well
drained you will have difficulty in
growing any form of small fruit there
However, the blackberry will come
nearer to growing in poorly drained land
than the raspberries will. In choosing
varieties of blackberries, use the Nam.
moth for extra early, the Snyder for
middle early and the Evergreen for
late. Raspberries require dryer and,
especially, well drained soil, and-with
such conditions in your part of the
state you should be able to grow re-
markable crops of them. The Cuthbert
is the standard for commercial work on
the west side; also the Antwerp, the
Superlative and the Marlboro are excel.
lent berries for growth there.
"Plums will do well upon a yer,
moist soil, and will stand poorly
drained soil better than the majority Of
other fruits. The Peach, the Yellow
Egg, the Tragedy, the Willard, the LON
bard and other varieties almost without
number will do well in the region you
refer to. Almost any cherry will sue
ceed there. The Royal AIMS, the Bings.
the Lamberts and the May Dukes would
be good varieties to plant. The varie
ties of apples that will do especially
well there are more or less limited.
The Yellow Transparent, the Duchess,
the Gutenberg and the Gravenstein for
early apples, and the Northern Spy,
Olympia, Baldwin, Grimes Golden and
possibly a few Rhode Island Greetings
for later varieties will do quite well.
Other varieties, such as Ben Davis,
Gaun and tho Tonatbou dn not oaapn ~