Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-03-14

Safety il Mushrooms
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There Is NO simple test Tor distiH-
gushing between edible ami poison
Gus mushrooms. according 10 special
tsts ia tile L. 5. Department oi Assn
culture. For example. the common be
lief that any mushroom may Be eaten
with safety if the sd can be peeied
stsdtlS from the cap Is quite unbound
Ell. Feeling oil this character is pos
sible With many poisonous species
The presence OF insects on muSh,
rooms. TOO. is no proof that theA
are safe Tor human consumption
Insects infect some OF the most poi
aOnoGs as well as some vi the best
species of fungi Again. there Is
common belief that II poisonous
mushrooms are soaked or boiled IN
salt water they viii dO no harm. THIS
is dangerous and unfounded suppo-
silion.
The only safe mus bfooms 10 eat are
those which are gathered by col
iector who knows exactly what he Is
doing. In order TO make easier the
all-important distinction between POI
sonous and nonpoisonous CROWNS. the
department OF Agriculture has pub
tishel new bulletin entitled. some
Common Edible and Poisonous Aush'
rooms" Farmers Bulletin 1s6. The ii
Illustrations and tex, Of this bulletin
should enable collectors TO avoid
doubtful species. The authors point
out. however. that it is most important
10 pick only those which it is abso-
luteiy certain are harmless. No al
tempt should be made TO gather rare
forms or those species which are not
readily recognizable.
The most common edible MUSHROOM
il known to scientists as agaricus
Campestris. This variety Is not
only cultivated commercially, but II is
widely distributed and is abundant IN
the wild state. The cap il tlesby and
bemispherical in shape. but later be
comes expanded and nearly Nat. II is
smooth. in color white or light brown,
and the flesh is white and firm. The
slls are white at first. later become
pink. and finally turn o blacklsh
brown The stem is stout, smooth,
and furnished with ring. This type
OF mushroom is readily recognized,
but there Is some possibility that II
NAV be confused with an amanita,
vi which there are several varieties,
most of them extremely poisonous
The risk of mistaking the common
mushroom for one of these may be
avoided il the fungus is not picked
until the 2llls are pink or turning
10 brown. The gills OF the Amanita
remain white. These poisonous fungi.
however. may be Distinguished from
edible mushrooms with white sllls b.
the presence Of veil or Of a yolva,
membrapeous envelope or sack
which completely surrounds the plant
in the young state After this volsa
breaks away part remains on The
top of the cap around its margin as
scales and as broken cup at the base
Of the stem. Certain edible varieties
do have such volvss. but as they are
rare and the poisonous species com
mon and dangerous. the only safe
pIap il 10 leave atone all the tun5l
which possess this feature.
In addition to describing the varle
,ies OF edible mushrooms, the bulletin
already mentioned gives number O.
recipes for their preparation, Nan!
people. II is said, believe that musb
rooms are best eaten with no onel
seasoning than salt, pepper, and but
ter. The fungi may. however, be pre-
pared in ans Of the ways which have
been found suitable for oysters