Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-21

commencing.
The state OF Minnesota has the honor
to be the lea Ter OF the movement in
America. tt has Just issued free to every
citizen In the state booklet of 100 pages
and 124 illustrations to teach people the
difference between edible and poisonous
mushrooms. the former of which Amer
leans have too long contemptuously pass
ed over a 'toadstools." Prof. Frederick
+. Clements. state hotanist. in his pref
ace makes the following statement:
AN important object of the Guide to
minnesota Mushrooms is to make avail
able with safety the enormous crop.
which Is almost entirely wasted
through fear or neglect. It Ia perhaps
idle to estimate the size or value Of this
crop. but If that part which is readily
accessible is alone considered the num-
Der of pounds OF Minnesota will reach
hundreds or thousands Figured on the
market price Of the cultivated mushroom,
the total value of the mushroom crop of
the state can hardly he less than a mil
lion dollars. lust what would be the eff
feet of utilizing this food supply is
matter Of mcclure. but there can be
little doubt that it would prove fortunate
from the standpoint Of dietetics as we'll
as of economies. Copies Of the booklet
are furnished free to the citizens of Min
schools. academies and colleges. Citi-
gems will feel free at all times to send
specimens 10 the department of botany
Of the University of Minnesota at Min
neapolis, 10 he named"
Although the 1910 crop OF the American
farmer was valued at almost one billion
dollars. it has been well demonstrated by
scientists who know that more than that
value In edible mushrooms. measured as
a food supply. goes to waste annually
within the United States. Foreign gov
srnments for several years have been ex-
erting their every resource to teach their
citizens the food value of natures mar
relously generous supply of so-caIled
toadstools. France has great central
free school and exposition at Rouen I'M
der the direction of Prof. Paul Noel.
director of agricultural entomology and
other schools elsewhere. teaching citi-
gems how TO select and utilize the best
edible species.
Every afternoon In season Prof. Noel,
who is also both an accomplished cryp-
togamist and an epcure of the first or
der, lectures TO packed audiences OF
country folk, demonstrating the great
food resources To be found in the edible
mushrooms growing plentifully in the i'm
nense forests of Normandy. Hundreds
" specimens are spread on tables in front
of MIN by means oi WHICH lie - oDte To
aifferentiate in simple language between
he edible, poisonous and woody fungi.
Exhibitions OF the desirable types nave
been organized all over France, and es-
oeciaIly in Paris. TO enable the poorest
,itizens TO go out daily and collect the
richest of foods, both for their own con-
sumption and TO sell in the markets,
where thirty species have government
sanction and inspection
Saxony gives regular. systematic In
,truction in all elementary schools to ia
niliarize children thoroughly with mush-
rooms. A permanent exhibition is main
aimed at Plauen. Government wagons
collect specimens for the classes Ger
many has similar free schools. in which
citizens compose the classes. TO learn how
20 utilize mushrooms. Japan. while not