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Title:Student’sHand-bookofMushroomsofAmerica,EdibleandPoisonous

Author:ThomasTaylor

ReleaseDate:June26,2010[EBook#32982]

Language:English

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STUDENT’SHAND-BOOKOFMUSHROOMSOFAMERICAPart1.

Introduction.Cryptogams.

Fungi.Classification.StructuralCharacteristicsoftheAgaricini.

MushroomGills.TheVolva.TheMushroomVeil.MushroomSporesandMycelium.Mycelium.

EtymologyoftheWord“Mushroom.”FoodValueofMushrooms.CautionarySuggestions.DescriptionsofGeneraandSpecies.

AppendixA.PreservingandCookingMushrooms.Receipts.

AppendixB.GlossaryofTermsusedinDescribingMushrooms.AuthoritiesConsulted.

Part2.Ascomycetes.Discomycetes.DescriptionsofGeneraandSpecies(continued).ReceiptsForCooking.MushroomGrowing.

DirectionsforPreparingtheCompostfortheBeds.CompostforMushroomBeds.MushroomCultureinCanada.CultivationofMushroomsinJapan.ManufactureofSpawn.

“BrickSpawn.”“MillTrack”Spawn.SpawnProducedinaManureHeap.

AppendixA.ContinuationofGlossaryofTermsusedinDescribingMushrooms.

AppendixB.Part3.

DescriptionsofGeneraandSpecies(continued).AnalyticalTable.Polyporei.DescriptionsofGeneraandSpecies(continued).RecipesforCookingMushrooms.ListoftheGeneraofHymenomycetes.Brefield’sClassificationofFungi.ConiomycetesandHyphomycetes.Hyphomycetes.PhycomycetesorPhysomycetes.Bibliography.ContinuationofGlossaryofTermsusedinDescribingMushrooms.

Part4.Gasteromycetes.DescriptionsofGeneraandSpecies(continued).MyxomycetesorMyxogasters.—”SlimeFungi.”GeneraofGasteromycetes,accordingtoSaccardo.

Bibliography.DescriptionsofGeneraandSpecies(continued).Appendix.

Part5.DescriptionsofGeneraandSpecies(continued).AlkaloidsofthePoisonousMushrooms.

Muscarin.Phallin.ThePoisonousAlkaloidofGyromitraEsculentaFries(HelvellaEsculentaPers.)

HelvellicAcid.PoisonousandDeleteriousMushroomsoftheLactar,Russula,andBoleusGroups.

PoisonousBoleti.RecentInstancesofMushroomPoisoning.

Bibliography.Fungi.Bibliography.ToxicologyofMushrooms.IndextoIllustrations.CorrectionofPlates.

Transcriber’sNotes.

STUDENT’SHAND-BOOKOF

MUSHROOMSOFAMERICA

EDIBLEANDPOISONOUS.

BYTHOMASTAYLOR,M.D.AUTHOROFFOODPRODUCTS,ETC.

PublishedinSerialForm—No.1—Price,50c.pernumber.

WASHINGTON,D.C.:A.R.TAYLOR,PUBLISHER,238MASS.AVE.N.E.

1897.

HYMENOMYCETES.Agaricus(Psalliota)campester.

T.Taylor,del.

PLATEA.

In PlateA is presented a sketch of the common fieldmushroom,Agaricuscampester.Fig.1representsthematureplant;Fig.2,asectionalviewofthesame;Fig.3,thebasidia,club-shapedcellsfromthesummitofwhichproceedthe slender tubes called sterigmata, which support the spores—highlymagnified; Fig. 4, the sterigmata; Fig. 5, the mycelium, highly magnified,supportingimmaturemushrooms;Fig.6,thesporesasshedfromaninvertedmushroomcap;Fig.7,sporesmagnified.

HYMENOMYCETES.TypesoftheSixOrdersofHymenomycetes.

T.Taylor,del.

PLATEB.

InPlateBisrepresentedaleadingtypeofeachofthesixordersofthefamilyHymenomycetes:

Fig.1.Capwithradiatinggillsbeneath.Agaricini.Fig.2.Capwithspinesorteethbeneath.Hydnei.Fig.3.Capwithporesortubesbeneath.Polyporei.Fig.4.Capwiththeunderorspore-bearingsurfaceeven.Thelephorei.Fig.5.Wholeplant,club-shaped,orbush-likeandbranched.Clavarei.Fig.6.Wholeplantirregularlyexpanded,substancegelatinous.

Tremellini.

Copyright,1897,byTHOMASTAYLOR,M.D.,

andA.R.TAYLOR.

INTRODUCTION.In the year 1876, as Microscopist of the Department of Agriculture, Iprepared,asapartoftheexhibitofmyDivisionattheCentennialExhibitionat Philadelphia, a large collection of water-color drawings representingleading types of the edible and poisonousmushroomsof theUnitedStates,togetherwith representations of about nine hundred species ofmicroscopicfungidetrimentaltovegetation.

InthepreparationofthefirstcollectionIhadthevaluableassistanceofProf.CharlesH.Peck,StateBotanistofNewYork,andinthesecondtheheartyco-operation of Rev.M. J. Berkeley andDr.M.C. Cook, the eminent Britishmycologists.

The popular character of this exhibit attracted the attention of the generalpublic, and many letters were received at the Department showing anawakening interest in the study of fungi, particularly with regard to themushroomfamily,astomethodsofcultivation,themeansofdeterminingthegoodfromtheunwholesomevarieties,etc.

My first published paper on the subject of edible mushrooms, entitled“TwelveEdibleMushroomsoftheU.S.,”appearedintheannualreportoftheDepartment of Agriculture for 1885. This was followed by others to thenumberoffive,andasthedemandforthesereportsincreased,reprintsweremadeandissued,byorderoftheSecretaryofAgriculture,inpamphletform,under the general title of “Food Products.” Numerous editions of thesereprintswereissuedbytheDepartmentupto1894.Duringtheyear1894,andthe first half of 1895, 36,600 of these reports were sent out by theDepartment,and thesupplywasexhausted.Theyhavebeenoutofprint formorethantwoyears.Itisinviewofthisfact,andinresponsetoagreatandconstant demand for these publications, that I haveundertaken to publish aseries of five pamphlets on the edible and poisonous mushrooms of theUnited States, which shall embody the substance of the five pamphlets on“Food Products” above alluded to, supplemented by newmatter relating toclassification,generalandspecific,analyticaltablesofstandardauthors,andacontinuationofthechaptersonstructure,etc.Additionalplates,representingleading types of edible and poisonousmushrooms, will also be inserted ineachnumber.

In the compilation and extension of this work I have the assistance ofmydaughter,MissA.RobenaTaylor,whohasgivenconsiderableattentiontothestudy of fungi, and who has been my faithful coadjutor in the work ofcollectingspecimens,etc.,foranumberofyears.

For valuable suggestions as to structural characteristics and methods ofclassificationIamespeciallyindebtedtoProf.Chas.H.Peck,ofAlbany,NewYork,Dr.M.C.Cooke,ofEngland,andProf.P.A.Saccardo,ofItaly.

ThecoloredplatesinpamphletNo.1,togetherwithafewofthosewhichwillappear in the succeeding numbers of this series, are reproductions of thoseprepared, under my direct supervision, for the pamphlets entitled “FoodProducts”publishedbytheDepartmentofAgricultureandreferredtoabove.

THOMASTAYLOR,M.D.

MAY7,1897.

CRYPTOGAMS.Thecryptogamicorflowerlessplants,i.e., thosehavingneitherstamensnorpistils, and which are propagated by spores, are divided, according to Dr.Hooper,intothefollowingfourclasses:—Pteridophytaorvascularacrogens,represented by the ferns, club-mosses, etc.;Bryophyta or cellular acrogens,representedbythemusci,scale-mosses,etc.;Algæ,representedbythe“RedSeaweeds,”Diatomacæ,etc.;FungiorAmphigens,whichincludethemolds,mildews, mushrooms, etc. The lichens, according to the “SchwendenerHypotheses,”consistofascigerousfungiparasiticonalgæ.

FUNGI.

Botanists unite in describing the plants of this class as being destitute ofchlorophyll andof starch.Theseplants assumean infinitevarietyof forms,and are propagated by spores which are individually so minute as to bescarcelyperceptibletothenakedeye.Theyareentirelycellular,andbelongtotheclassAmphigens,which for themostparthavenodeterminateaxe,anddevelop in every direction, in contradistinction to the Acrogens, whichdevelopfromthesummit,possessinganaxe,leaves,vessels,etc.

Fungiaredividedbysystematistsintotwogreatclasses:

1. Sporifera,inwhichthesporesarefree,naked,orsoonexposed.2. Sporidifera,inwhichthesporesarenotexposed,butinsteadareenclosed

inminutecellsorsacs,calledasci.

Theseclassesareagainsubdivided,accordingtothedispositionofthesporesandofthesporebearingsurface,calledthehymenium,intovariousfamilies.

Thesporiferousfungiarearrangedintofourfamilies,viz:

1. Hymenomycetes,inwhichthehymeniumisfree,mostlynaked,orsoonexposed.Example,“CommonMeadowMushroom.”

2. Gasteromycetes,inwhichthehymeniumisenclosedinasecondcaseorwrapper,calledaperidium,whichruptureswhenmature,thusreleasingthespores.Example,CommonPuffBall.

3. Coniomycetes,inwhichthesporesarenaked,mostlyterminaloninconspicuousthreads,freeorenclosedinaperithecium.Dust-likefungi.Example,RustofWheat.

4. Hyphomycetes,inwhichthesporesarenakedonconspicuousthreads,rarelycompacted,Thread-likefungi.Example,BlueMold.

OfthesefoursubdivisionsoftheSporifera,onlytheHymenomycetesandtheGasteromycetes contain plants of the mushroom family, and these twotogether constitute the class known as the Basidiomycetes. The chiefdistinction of theBasidiomycetes is that the naked spores are borne on thesummits of certain supporting bodies, termed basidia. These basides areswollen,club-shapedcells,surmountedbyfourminutetubesorspore-bearers,calledsterigmata,eachofwhichcarriesaspore.SeeFigs.3and4,PlateA.

These basides togetherwith a series of elongated cells, termed paraphyses,

packedclosely togethersidebyside,andintermixedwithothersterilecells,calledcystidia,constitutethespore-bearingsurfaceorhymeniumoftheplant.

To the naked eye this hymenium appears simply as a very thin smoothmembrane, butwhen a small portion of it is viewed through amicroscopewith high powers its complex structure is readily observed and can becarefullystudied.

TheSporidiferous fungi are represented by the families Physomycetes andAscomycetes.Thefirstoftheseconsistswhollyofmicroscopicfungi.

Ascomycetes.—Intheplantsofthisfamilythesporesarenotsupporteduponbasidia,butinsteadareenclosedinminutesacsorasciformedfromthefertilecellsofahymenium.InthisconnectionitwouldbewelltostatethatSaccardodoesnotrecognizethedivisionsSporiferaandSporidiferabythosenames.

TheyarenearlytheequivalentofBasidiomycetesandAscomycetes.

What Cooke names Physomycetes, Saccardo calls Phycomyceteæ,introducing it in his work between Gasteromyceteæ and Myxomyceteæ,whichsomemycologistsconsidersomewhatoutofplace.

Saccardocallsitsasci(sacswhichcontainthespores)sporangia.Hedoesnotregardthemasgenuineasci,butascorrespondingmoretotheperidiumoftheGasteromyceteæandMyxomyceteæ.

PecksaysthatthisgroupseemstopresentcharactersofbothHyphomycetesandAscomycetes,withapreponderancetowardsHyphomycetes.

It is a small group, however, and since it consists wholly of microscopicfungi,neednotbefartherconsideredinthiswork.

In the Ascomycetes are included the sub-families Discomycetes,Pyrenomycetes,andTuberacei.OfthesetheDiscomycetesandtheTuberaceiaretheonlygroupswhichcontainanyofthemushrooms,andbutfewofthesearelargeenoughorsufficientlytendertopossessvalueasesculents.Agoodexampleofthefirst(Discomycetes)isfoundintheMorel,andofthesecond(Tuberacei)intheTruffle.

In the Discomycetes or “disk fungi,” the spores are produced in minutemembraneoussacs,eachsacusuallycontainingeightspores.Thesesporesacsareimbeddedinthefleshoftheexterioranduppersurfaceofthemushroomcap.

In the four classes, Hymenomycetes, Gasteromycetes, Discomycetes, andTuberacei,therefore,areincludedalloftheplantswhichareheredesignatedunderthegenerictermof“mushrooms.”

Some ideaof the relativenumericalvalueof these classesmaybeobtained

fromthefollowingfiguresgivenbythedistinguishedBritishmycologist,M.C.Cooke:

“Hymenomyceteæ— total number of described species 9,600Gasteromycetæ— “ “ “ “ “ 650Discomyceteæ— “ “ “ known “ 3,500”

(The Tuberacei comprise a very small group of subterranean fungi, andcomparativelyfewofthespeciesaredescribed.)

SaccardoinhisSyllogegivesatotalof42,000describedspeciesoffungiofallclasses, includingthemostminute.OfthesetheHymenomycetesincludebyfarthelargestnumberofediblemushrooms.

The family Hymenomycetes is divided into the following six orders:Agaricini,Polyporei,Hydnei,Thelephorei,Clavarei,Tremellini.

In the order Agaricini the hymenium is found on the under surface of themushroomcap,coveringpleatsorgills,technicallycalledlamellæ.Thesegillsvary in character in the different genera, being “persistent in such as theAgaricus, Russula, and Lentinus, deliquescent (melting) in Coprinus,Bolbitius,etc.TheedgeofthegillsisacuteinAgaricus,Marasmius,etc.,butobtuseandvein-likeinCantharellus,longitudinallychannelledinTrogia,andsplittinginSchyzophyllum.”

InthePolyporei,pore-bearingmushrooms,thegillsarereplacedbytubesorpores. The tubes are little cylinders, long or short, pressed one againstanother, formingby theiruniona layeron theundersurfaceof thecap,andthe sporiferousmembraneorhymenium lines their innerwalls.Their upperendisalwaysclosed,whilethelowerextremityisopentopermittheoutwardpassage of the spores. The tubes are generally joined together and are noteasilydisunited.Theyarefree,i.e.,separable,inthesolegenusFistulina.Asregardstheirattachmenttothecap,thetubesmaybefirmlyadherentasinthegenusPolyporusoreasilydetachedinasinglemassasinBoletus,thefleshyformoftheorderPolyporei.Theyfrequentlyleaveacircularspaceofgreaterorlessdimensionsaroundthestem,ortheyadheretoorareprolongeduponitinsuchamannerthattheorificesriseintiersoneaboveanother.Thecolorofthetubes,althoughnotofferingascharacteristicvarietiesasthatofthegills,changes nevertheless according to species and according to the age of theplant.Thetubesmaysometimesbeofadifferentcolorfromtheirorifices,asinBoletusluridus.InsomeoftheBoletithecolorofthefleshischangedonexposure to the air and the tubes often assume the same tints. The tubes,generallycalledpores,aresometimescloselyadherenttothesubstanceofthecap, which is often hard, corky, or coriaceous, as seen in most of thePolyporei.

IntheHydnei,spine-bearingmushrooms,thehymeniumisseencoveringthespinesorneedle-likeprocesseswhichtaketheplaceofgillsinthisorder,andwhichprojectfromtheundersurfaceofthecap.Thesespinesmaybedividedorentire,simpleorramified,andareformedof thesubstanceof thecap.Inthe early stages of development they appear like small projecting points orpapillæ, those on themargin of the cap and at the apex of the stem beingalways lessdeveloped, frequently remaining in this rudimentary state.Theyare rounded in the species Hydnum imbricatum, sometimes compressed inHydnum repandum, sometimes terminating in hairs or filaments, as inHydnumbarbaJovis,orverymuchdivided,asinHydnumfimbriatum.

In theClavarei, thewholeplantconsistsofsolid fleshymasseswithoutanystem of a distinct substance, sometimes club-shaped, sometimes branchedwiththehymeniumsmoothlycoveringtheentiresurface,neverincrustingorcoriaceous.

IntheThelephorei,thelowersurfaceofthecappresentsneithergills,pores,norspines,but instead thehymeniumcoversanunevenorslightlywrinkledsurface, partially striate, sometimes obscurely papillose. The plants of thisorderassumeagreatvarietyofshape,fromthatofaperfectcupwithacentralstemtoanirregularlyandmuchbranchedfrond.Theyaregenerallydryandtough.Veryfewarerecommendedasedible.Prof.Pecksaysofthisorderthatprobablynoediblespecieswillbe found inanyof itsgeneraoutsideof thegenusCraterellus.

In theorderTremelliniwehave agreat departure from the character of thesubstance, external appearance, and internal structure of the other orders oftheHymenomycetes.Thesubstance isgelatinous; the form is lobed, folded,or convolute, often resembling the brain of some animal. It is uniformlycomposedthroughoutofacolorlessmucilage,withnoappreciabletexture,inwhich are distributed very fine, diversely branched, and anastomosingfilaments. Towards the surface the ultimate branches of this filamentousnetworkgivebirthtoglobularcells,bothattheirsummitsandlaterally,whichattainacomparativelylargesize.Thesecellsarefilledwithaprotoplasm,towhich theplantowes its color.The fertile threadsarenot compacted intoatruehymenium.

Representative types of the above-described orders of the HymenomycetesareshowninPlateB.Thevariousgenera,andspeciesoftheseorders,willbedescribedmoreindetailinconnectionwiththespeciesillustrated.

CLASSIFICATION.Owing to the fact that botanists of various countries, writing in diverselanguages,haveformorethanacenturybeenengagedindescribingthefungiof their respective countries, with their work frequently unknown to oneanother,itisnotsurprisingthattherehasbeenconstantrevision,orthatmanychangeshavebeenmadeinthewayofclassificationandnomenclaturewhichtotheamateurstudentareoftenconfusing.

Theclassificationbythepioneermycologist,EliasFries,aspresentedinhisseveralworksonfungi,ignoredallmicroscopicalcharacters,andSaccardo’sclassification, aspresented inhisSyllogeFungorum,was the first completesystemofferedinitsplace.

Saccardo, in 1882, commenced his Sylloge, of which not less than twelvevolumeshavebeenpublished. InSaccardo’s systemofclassification the sixorders of the Hymenomycetes are not essentially different in theirarrangement from that of Fries, although Saccardo has raised all thesubgeneraofAgaricustotherankofgenera,andthenalteredtheirsequenceso as to bring them into four sections, distinguished by the color of theirspores.Having raised the old subgenera of Fries to generic rank, SaccardofounditnecessarytolimittheapplicationofthetermAgaricustothegroupoffungi towhichitwasoriginallyappliedbyLinnæus,viz., thecommonfieldmushroom Agaricus campester, and its allies, represented by Agaricusarvensis,AgaricusRodmani,etc.,or,asProf.Peckmoredefinitelystates it,“tothoseofthegilledmushroomswhichhavebrownspores,freegills,astembearinga ring,gillsgenerallypink-colored in theearly stage, andbrownishblack when fully matured.” M. C. Cooke, the distinguished Englishmycologist, prefers to retain thegenusAgaricuswith its original subgeneraintact,succeededbytheothergeneraofAgaricini,asintheHymenomycetesEuropei of Fries, giving as his reason the belief “that for purposes ofclassification features should be takenwhich are present and evident in thespecimens themselves, and are not dependent on any of their life-historywhichcannotbepresentedintheherbarium.”

Inawork suchas thepresent,which isdesigned tobepopular incharacterrather than purely technical, it is deemed advisable to select as a basis forclassificationthatsystemwhichismostaccessibletoreferencebythegeneralreading public. Saccardo’s Sylloge, while exhaustive in character and ofinestimablevalue to themycologist, iswritten inLatin, and is,moreover, avery expensive work—facts which render it practically unavailable to thegeneralpublic.

InthecompilationofthisseriesofpamphletsIhaveadoptedtheclassificationofM.C.Cooke,which,asregardstheHymenomycetes,thefamilycontainingmost of the fleshy fungi, is, with exceptions noted, in accord with that ofSaccardo.M.C.Cooke’shand-bookoffungiisofconvenientsizeandformforreadyreference.

For the convenience, however, of those who may wish to familiarizethemselves with both systems, a synopsis of Saccardo’s Genera ofHymenomyceteswillbegivenlater.

STRUCTURALCHARACTERISTICSOFTHE

AGARICINI.ByfarthegreaternumberoftheAgaricinihavebothcapandstem.Theformofthecap,aswellasthatofthestem,variessomewhatinthedifferentgeneraandspecies.Thosewhichareterrestrialinhabitaregenerallyofanumbrella-like shape,while thosewhichgrowupon treesanddecayed tree-stumpsareapttobeone-sidedorsemi-spherical.

Inmanyof theparasiticalmushroomsthestemisabsent.Wherethestemispresent it iseitheran interruptedcontinuationof thehymenophoreorfleshysubstanceofthecap,orelseissupportedseparatelyasapillaronwhichthecaprests,amoreorlessdistinctlineofdemarcationshowingwherethefibersterminate.Sometimesitisquiteeasilydetachedfromthecapsocket,asintheLepiotaprocerus.Itmaybeholloworstuffed,solidorfibrillose.Itvariesinlength and thickness. In some species it is smooth and polished, in othersrough and hairy, reticulated, etc., sometimes tapering, sometimes distinctlybulbousatthebase.

Thesporesofthespeciesdifferincolorandareusuallyglobularoroblonginshape.Allofthesecharacteristicsassistindeterminingthespecies.

MUSHROOMGILLS.

Mushroomgills,orlamellæ,anatomicallyconsidered,arecomposed,first,ofacentralportion,aprolongationofthehymenophoreorfleshofthecap,moreor less dense, sometimes so thin as to be scarcely perceptible; second, thehymenium or spore-bearing membrane covering the surfaces of thisprolonged hymenophore. They are vertical, simple, equal, respectively, ormorefrequentlyalternatingwithshortergills.Theyareoftenevanescentandputrescent, sometimes liquefying altogether. Their color is usually differentfrom the upper surface of the cap, not always similar to that of the sporesborneupon them,at least inyouth;withage,however, theyusuallyassumethecolorofthematurespore.ThechangeofcolorofthegillsaccordingtotheageoftheplantisveryimportantinthestudyoftheAgaricini;itaccountsforthewhitegillsofcertainspeciesinyouth,thepinkinmaturity,andthebrownwhenaged.

The end of the gill nearest the stalk of the plant is termed the posteriorextremity; theoppositeend, theanteriorextremity. Inmostof theAgaricinithegills areunequal.Someextend from themargin to about half the spacebetweenitandthestem;othersarestillshorter.

THEVOLVA.

Thevolvaisamembranewhichenvelopstheentireplantinembryo,givingitthe appearance of an egg. It originates at the base of the mushroom andfurnishesit,duringitsfœtallife,withthemeansofsupportandnourishment.Itstextureissodelicatethatitgenerallydisappears,leavingverylittletraceofits existence on the adult plant. In many of the volvate species this organexistsonlyso longas theyareunderground,andsomemycologists restrictthe term “volvati” to such only as retain it afterwards. As the young plantexpands it breaks through the top of this volva orwrapper, and, emerging,carrieswithitpatchesofthemembraneontheuppersurfaceofthecap.Theseare more or less prominent, numerous, and thick, sometimes irregularlydisposed,sometimesregularlyintheformofplates,warts,etc.Atthebaseofthestemofthemushroomtheremainsofthevolvaareseenintheformofasortofwrapper.Thisismoreorlessample,thick,andascending.Itiscalledfreewhenitislooseoreasilydetachedfromthestem,andcongenitalwhenitcannotbeseparatedfromitwithoutlaceration.Insomespeciesitisdistinctlymembranous, and in others floccose, and friable in character, sometimesappearinginridgesasamereborder,atothersbrokenupintoscales,and,asthe plant matures, wholly disappearing. The volva is a feature of greatimportanceinthestudyoftheAgaricini,ofthesubgeneraAmanita,Volvaria,etc.

THEMUSHROOMVEIL.

The veil is not a constant feature in theAgaricini, at least it is not alwaysvisible. When present it consists of a membrane which extends from themarginofthecaptothestem,veilingorprotectingthegills.Thismembrane,called thecortina,hasgiven itsname toanumerousand important class ofmushrooms (the Cortinarias). It is generally white, soft, slightly spongy,cottony, at times fibrillose or even slightly fibrous, again in texturecomparable to the spider’sweb, andmay be even powdery or glutinous. Itexistsintactonlyintheyouthoftheplant.Itisnotvisibleinthedevelopingmushroom,at leastwhile thecap iscloselypressedagainst thestem,butasthe cap expands themembrane extends and finally breaks, leaving in somespecies its remnants upon themargin of the cap and upon the stem in theusualformofaringoramerezone.Whenthestemisnotringedtheveilriseshigh upon the stalk, stretches across to meet the edges of the cap, and isafterwardsreflectedbackoveritswholesurface.

MUSHROOMSPORESANDMYCELIUM.

Thesporeisthereproductiveorganofthemushroom.Itdiffersfromtheseedof the flowering plant in being destitute of an apparent embryo. A seedcontainsaplantletwhichdevelopsassuch.Asporeisaminutecellcontaininganucleusor livinggerm, thereproductivecellgermcalledbysomeauthorsthegerminatinggranule.This in turn throwsout ahighlyelongatedprocessconsisting of a series of thread-like cells branching longitudinally andlaterally, at length bifurcating and anastomosing the mass, forming thevegetativeprocessknownasmyceliumormushroomspawn.

On this mycelium, at intervals, appear knob-like bodies, called tubercles,from which the mushrooms spring and from which they derive theirnourishment.SeeFig.5,PlateA.

Wheretheconditionshavebeenunfavorablethismyceliumhasbeenknowntogrowforyearswithoutbearingfruit.

Mushroomsporesareveryvariableinsize,shape,andcolor,butaregenerallyconstantatmaturityinthesamegenus.Theirshape,almostalwayssphericalin the young plant, becomes ovate, ellipsoidal, fusiform, reniform, smooth,stellate,sometimestuberculate,orremainsglobose.Thisfeature,varyingthuswiththeageoftheplant,shouldbestudiedinthematureplant.

MYCELIUM.

DeLeveillehasthusdefinedmycelium:“Filamentsatfirstsimple,thenmoreorlesscomplicated,resultingfromthevegetationofthesporesandservingasrootstothemushroom.”

Themyceliumofmushroomsorthemushroomspawnisusuallywhite,butisalso found yellow, and even red. It is distinguished by some writers asnematoid, fibrous, hymenoid, scleroid or tuberculous, and malacoid. Thenematoidmyceliumisthemostcommon.Creepingalongonthesurfaceoftheearth,penetrating it toagreateror lessdepth,developing inmanureamongthedébrisof leavesordecayedbranches,alwaysprotectedfromthelight, itpresently consists of very delicate filamentous cells more or less looselyinterwoven, divided, anastomosing in every direction and often ofconsiderableextent.

Itspresenceissometimesdifficulttodetectwithouttheuseofthemicroscope,eitheronaccountofitsdelicacyorbecauseofitsbeingintermingledwiththeorganictissuesinwhichithasdeveloped.

Sometimesmyceliumunitesinbundlesmoreorlessthickandbranched.Thishasbeencalledthefibrousmycelium.Wherethefilamentsintercrossclosely,arefelted,andinclinedtoformamembrane,itishymenoidmycelium.Wherethe filaments are so small and close that they form very compact bodies,constituting those solid irregularproductscalledsclerotium, it is scleroidortuberculousmycelium.Withmalacoidmyceliumwe have nothing to do inthispaper.Itisasoft,pulpy,fleshymycelium.

SystematistshavedividedtheAgariciniintogroupsaccordingtothecoloroftheirspores.Thesegroupsaredefinedasfollowsbyvariousauthors:

Accordingto—

Elias Fries, 5 groups: Leucosporus, white; Hyporhodius, pink;Cortinaria,ochraceous;Derminus,rust;Pratella,purplishblack.

Rev.J.M.Berkeley,5groups:Veryfrequentlypurewhite,butpresentingalso pink, various tints of brown, from yellowish and rufous to darkbister, purple-black, and finally black; Leucospori, white;Hyporhodii,salmon;Dermini,ferruginous;Pratellæ,brown;Coprinarius,black.

Dr.Badham,6groups:Purewhiteorayellow tingeondrying;brown;yellow;pink;purple;purple-black;somepasssuccessivelyfrompinkto

purpleandfrompurpletopurple-black.

Mrs. Hussey, 11 shades: White; rose; pale ocher; olivaceous-ocher;reddish-ocher; ochraceous; yellowish olive-green; dull brown; scarcelyferruginous;snuff-color;verydarkbrown.

Hogg & Johnson, 5 groups: Leucosporei, white;Hyporhodii, salmon;Dermini,rusty;Pratellæ,purplish-brown;Coprinarii,black.

C.Gillet,7shades:White;pink;ochraceous;yellow;ferruginous;blackor purplish black; round, ovate, elongated, or fusiform, smooth,tuberculate or irregular, simple or composite, transparent or nebulous,etc.

JulesBel,5groups:White;pink;red;brown;black.

Dr.Gautier,5shades:White;pink;brown;purplish-brown;black.

Constantin & Dufour, 5 groups: White; pink; ochraceous; brownish-purple;black.

J.P.Barla,7groups:Leucosporii,white;Hyporhodii,pink;Cortinariæ,ochraceous; Dermini, rust; Pratellæ, purplish-black; Coprinarii,blackish;CopriniandGomphi,denseblack.

L. Boyer, 5 groups, 11 shades: White to cream yellow; pale pink toochraceous yellow; bay or red brown to brown or blackish bister; rustcolor,cinnamonorlightyellow.

W.D.Hay,5groups:White;pink;brown;purple;black.

C.H.Peck,5groups:Leucosporii,white;Hyporhodii,salmon;Dermini,rust;Pratellæ,brown;Coprinarii,black.

SaccardodividestheAgariciniintofoursections,accordingtothecolorof their spores, as follows: Spores brown, purplish brown or black,Melanosporæ; spores ochraceous or rusty ochraceous, Ochrosporæ;spores rosy or pinkish, Rhodosporæ; spores white, whitish or paleyellow,Leucosporæ.

Dr.M.C.Cooke,5groups:Leucospori,whiteoryellowish;Hyporhodii,rosyorsalmoncolor;Dermini, brown, sometimes reddishoryellowishbrown; Pratellæ, purple, sometimes brownish purple, dark purple, ordarkbrown;Coprinarii,blackornearlyso.

Theseshadesaresomewhatdifferentfromthecolorsofthemushrooms’gills,sothat,whenitisofimportancetodetermineexactlythecolorofthesporeintheidentificationofaspecies,wemaywithoutrecoursetothemicroscopecutoff the stemof an adult plant on a levelwith the gills and place the under

surface of the cap upon a leaf ofwhite paper if a dark-spored species, anduponasheetofblackpaperifthesporesarelight.Attheexpirationofafewhourswewill find, on lifting the cap, a bed of the shed sporeswhichwillrepresenttheirexactshade.Thesemayberemovedtoaglassslideandtheirsizeandformdeterminedbymeansofthemicroscope.

InthepresentworkDr.M.C.Cooke’sgroupingofthesporeseriesisadopted.

ETYMOLOGYOFTHEWORD“MUSHROOM.”

Various opinions have been offered as to the derivation of the word“mushroom.”AccordingtoHay,itprobablyhaditsorigininacombinationofthe two Welsh wordsmaes, a field, and rhum, a knob, which by gradualcorruptionhavebecomemushroom.Somewritersontheotherhandregarditas a corruptionofmousseron, a name specifically applied by theFrench tothosemushroomswhicharefoundgrowinginmossyplaces.Butitseemstobeofolderusagethansuchaderivationwouldimply,andthereforethefirstexplanationseemsthemorelikelytobecorrect.

In England the term “mushroom” has beenmost commonly applied to the“meadowmushroom,” thatbeing theonebestknown;butEnglish-speakingmycologists now apply it generically verymuch as the French do the term“champignon,”whilethename“champignon”isrestrictedinEnglandtotheMarasmiusoreades,or“FairyRing”mushroom.

Berkeley says the French word “champignon” was originally scarcely ofwider signification thanourword“mushroom,” thoughnowclassical in thesense of fleshy fungi generally. The German word Pilz (a corruption ofBoletus)isusedtodenotethesofterkindsbysomeGermanauthors.ConstantandDufour,intheirrecentlypublishedAtlasdesChampignons,includetypesofagreatvarietyofmushrooms.

Hay contends that the pernicious nick-name “toad-stool” has not thederivation supposed, but that the first part of theword is the Saxon or oldEnglish“tod,”meaningabunch,cluster,orbush,theformofmanyterrestrialfungi suggesting it. The second syllable, “stool,” is easily supplied. “Theerroneousideaofconnectingtoadswiththeseplants,”saysHay,“seemstobeduetoSpenser,ortosomepoet,possibly,beforehistime.”Spenserspeaksoftheloathedpaddocks,“paddock”thenbeingthenamegiveninEnglandtothefrog,afterwardscorrupted to“paddic,”andoncereceived,readilyconvertedby the Scotch into “puddick-stool.” It would seem, therefore, from theforegoing, that the term “toad-stool” can have no proper relation tomushrooms,whetheredibleorpoisonous.

Thethreemushroomsillustratedanddescribedinthispamphlet,Plates I, II,andIII,areoftheorderAgariciniorgilledmushrooms.Theyarewell-definedtypesandofwidegeographicaldistribution.

FOODVALUEOFMUSHROOMS.RollrauschandSiegel,whoclaimtohavemadeexhaustiveinvestigationsintothefoodvaluesofmushrooms,statethat“manyspeciesdeservetobeplacedbeside meat as sources of nitrogenous nutriment,” and their analysis, ifcorrect, fully bears out the statement. They find in 100 parts of driedMorchellaesculenta35.18percent.ofprotein; inHelvellaesculenta, 26.31percent.ofprotein,from46to49percent.ofpotassiumsaltsandphosphoricacid,2.3percent.of fattymatter,andaconsiderablequantityofsugar.TheBoletusedulistheyrepresentascontainingin100partsofthedriedsubstance22.82 per cent. of protein. The nitrogenous values of different foods ascompared with the mushroom are stated as follows: “Protein substancescalculatedfor100partsofbread,8.03;ofoatmeal,9.74;ofbarleybread,6.39;ofleguminousfruits,27.05;ofpotatoes,4.85;ofmushrooms,33.0.”

AccordingtoSchlossbergerandDepping,in100gramsofdriedmushroomstheyfoundthefollowingproportionsofnitrogenoussubstances:

Varieties. Grains.Chanterelles 3.22CertainRussulas 4.25Lactariusdeliciosus 4.68Boletusedulis 4.25Meadowmushroom 7.26

Butall chemistsarenotagreedas to theseproportions.For instance,Leforthas found 3.51 grains of nitrogenous matter in the cap of Agaricuscampestris,2.1grainsinthegillsandonly0.34ofagraininthestem.Payenhas found 4.68 grains in Agaricus campestris, 4.4 grains in the commonMorel(Morchellaesculenta),9.96grainsinthewhitetruffle,and8.76grainsintheblack.

Amuchlargerproportionofthevariouskindsofmushroomsareediblethanisgenerallysupposed,butaprejudicehasgrownupconcerningtheminthiscountry which it will take some time to eradicate. Notwithstanding theoccurrence of occasional fatal accidents through the inadvertent eating ofpoisonousspecies, fungiare largelyconsumedbothbysavageandcivilizedman in all parts of the world, and while they contribute so considerable aportionofthefoodproductoftheworldwemaybesuretheirvaluewillnotbepermanentlyoverlookedintheUnitedStates,especiallywhenweconsider

ourlargeaccessionsofpopulationfromcountriesinwhichthemushroomisafamiliar andmuch prized edible. In Italy the value of themushroom as anarticle of diet has long been understood and appreciated. Pliny,Galen, andDioscoridesmentionvariousesculentspecies,notablyvarietiesofthetruffle,the boletus and the puff-ball, and Vittadini writes enthusiastically of thegastronomic qualities of a large number of species. Of late years largequantitieshavebeensoldintheItalianmarkets.QuantitiesofmushroomsarealsoconsumedinGermany,Hungary,Russia,France,andAustria.

Darwin speaks of Terra del Fuego as the only country where cryptogamicplantsformastaplearticleoffood.Abright-yellowfungusalliedtoBulgarinforms,withshellfish,thestaplefoodoftheFuegians.InEnglandthecommonmeadowmushroomAgaricuscampestris is quitewell knownandused to aconsiderableextentamongthepeople,butthereisnotthatgeneralknowledgeofanduseofotherspecieswhichobtainsinContinentalEurope.

In the English-speaking countries much has been done by the Rev. M. J.Berkeley, Dr. M. C. Cooke, Worthington G. Smith, Rev. John Stevenson,Prof.Hay,Prof.Chas.H.Peck,Prof.W.J.Farlow,andothers,includingthevariousmushroom clubs, to disseminate amore general knowledge on thissubject.

LateinvestigationsshowthatnearlyallthespeciescommontothecountriesofContinentalEurope,andofGreatBritain,arefoundindifferentlocalitiesintheUnitedStates,andanumberofspecieshavebeenfoundwhichhavenotbeendescribedinEuropeanworks.

The geographical distribution of many species of the mushroom family isverywide.WehavehadspecimensoftheMorel,forinstance,senttousfromCaliforniaandWashington,onthePacificcoast,andasfarnorthasMaine,ontheAtlantic,aswellasfromthesouthernandthemidwesternStates,andthesameistrueofotherspecies.Theseasonoftheirappearancevariessomewhataccording to the latitude and altitude of place of growth. Mushrooms arerarelyseenafterthefirstheavyfrosts,althoughanexceptionisnotedinthislatitude in the species Hypholoma sublatertium, which has been foundgrowing under the snow, at the roots of trees in sheltered woods. Frozenmushroomsofthisandcloselyalliedspecieshaverevivedwhenthawed,andprovedquitepalatablewhencooked.

At the present time only two species, Agaricus campester and Agaricusarvensis, are cultivated in America. Some attempts have beenmade by anamateurmushroomclub inOhio tocultivate theMorel,but theresultshavenot,sofar,beenreported.In themeantime,however, it iswell toutilize thewildmushroomsasfastasthecollectorcansatisfactorilyidentifythem.Thewoodsofallmoistregionsofthiscountryaboundwithediblevarieties.Prof.

Curtis, of North Carolina, gives a list of over one hundred edible speciesfoundinthatStatealone,andnearlyalloftheseoccurinourNorthernStatesaswell.Itisnotcontendedthatthislistincludesallthespecieswhichmaybeeaten, nor have all of these equal value from a gastronomic point of view.Someareinsipidastoflavor,andothersaretootoughortooslimytopleasethepopulartaste.

CAUTIONARYSUGGESTIONS.Before collecting for the tablemushrooms found growing in the woods orfields, itwouldbewell for inexperiencedpersons toconsult carefully somework on the subject in which the characteristics of edible and poisonousvarietiesaredescribedandillustrated.

Considering that an opinion seems to prevail that the discoloration of thesilver spoon or small white onions when brought into contact withmushroomsduring theculinaryprocess isan infallible testof thepoisonousspecies,IquotefromaFrenchauthoronmushroomsthefollowinginrelationtothissupposedtest:

***Wemaynotdisputethefactthatasilverspoonorarticleofbrass,or onions, may not become discolored on contact with the poisonousprinciple,but thisdiscoloration isnotreliableasa test fordeciding thegood or bad quality of mushrooms. In fact, we know that in thedecompositionof albuminoids sulphuretedhydrogen is liberatedwhichofitselfdiscolorssilver,brass,andonions.

I have deemed it advisable to publish this as one of the best means ofansweringthosecorrespondentswhohavemadeinquiriesastothereliabilityofthistest.

It isbysomesupposedthathighcolorsandviscidityareindicationsofnon-ediblespecies,buttherearenumerousexceptionshere.Russulaalutacea—thepileusofwhichisoftenapurplishred—AmanitaCæsarea,andotherspeciesofbrilliantcoloringareknowntobeedible.Astoviscidity, twoveryviscidspecies, when young, are among the highly prized esculents by those whoknow them, viz., Fistulina hepatica, or the ox tongue, and Hygrophoruseburneus,theivorymushroom.

Themethodofdecidingthecharacterofmushroomsbytheirodorandflavor

is not to be relied upon. Edible mushrooms are usually characterized by apleasantflavorandodor;non-ediblevarietieshavesometimesanunpleasantodor,andproduceabiting,burningsensationonthetongueandthroat,eveninverysmallquantities,butseveraloftheAmanitashaveonlyaslightodorandtaste,andcertainspeciesofmushrooms,acridotherwise,becomeediblewhencooked.

In fact there is no general rule by which the edible species can bedistinguishedfromtheunwholesomeorpoisonousones.Thesafestaswellasthemostsensibleplan,therefore, is toapplythesameruleasthatwhichweadoptinthecaseoftheesculentsamongthefloweringplants,viz.,tolearntoknowthecharacteristicsofeachindividualspeciessoastodistinguishitfromallothers.

With regard to themushroomswhichhavebeendesignatedaspoisonous, itshould be remembered that the term “poisonous” is used relatively.Whilesome are only slightly poisonous, producing severe gastric irritation andnervousderangement,butwithout fatal results,others, if eaten inevenverysmall quantity, may cause death. Happily, however, the most dangerousspeciesarenotnumerousascomparedwith thenumber thatareedible,andwithcarefulattentiononthepartofthecollectortheymaybeavoided.

SincetheAmanitagroupismaderesponsiblebycompetentauthorityformostof the recordedcasesof fatalpoisoning,wewould recommend the amateurmycophagist togivespecialstudyto thisgroupinorder to learn toseparatethespeciesauthenticallyrecordedasediblefromthepoisonousones.

Somewriters,asameasureofprecaution,counseltherejectionofallspeciesofAmanita.But this is,ofcourse,amatter for individualpreference.TherewouldseemtobenogoodreasonwhytheobservantstudentshouldnotlearntodiscriminatebetweentheedibleandthepoisonousspeciesoftheAmanitaasofanyothergroup,andtheyshouldnotbeeatenuntil thisdiscriminatingknowledgeisacquired.

Saccardo describes fifteen edible species of this group of mushrooms.Wehavetestedthreeofthisnumber,which,onaccountoftheirabundanceinourlocalityandtheirgoodflavor,wewouldbelothtodiscard,viz.,A.rubescens,A.Cæsarea,andA.strobiliformis.

AtypeoftheAmanitagroup,whichisnamedfirstinthegeneraoftheorderAgaricini,isshowninFig.1,PlateB.

Byreferencetothisfiguresomeofthespecialcharacteristicsofthegroupcanbe observed. There aremushrooms in other generawhich show a volva orsheathatthebaseofthestem,andwhichcontainediblespecies,butinthesethestemisringless.TheVolvariæ,forinstance,showaconspicuousvolva,a

stemthatisringless,andpinkishspores.TheAmanitopsisvaginatacarriesavolva,butnoring.Thesporesarewhite,asintheAmanita.

Ingatheringmushroomseitherforthetableorfortheherbarium,careshouldbetakennottoleaveanyportionoftheplantintheground,sothatnofeatureshallbelostthatwillaidincharacterizingthespecies.Inthecarelesspullingupoftheplantthevolvainthevolvatespeciesisoftenleftbehind.

AGARICINI.Fries.

LEUCOSPORI(SPORESWHITE,ORYELLOWISH).

GenusRussulaFr.TheRussulæbearsomeresemblanceto theLactars, theirnearestallies,butareatoncedistinguishedfromthembytheirwantofmilk.

Theyareveryabundantintheforestsandopenwoods.Thegenusiscitedbysomeauthorsas themostnaturalof theagarics,but,asmanyof thespeciesvery closely resemble each other, it requires careful analysis to determinethem.Theplantsofthisgenusarenotvolvate,andhaveneitherveilnorring.Thehymenophoreisnotseparatefromthetramaofthegills.Althoughsomearepurewhite,thecapsareusuallybrilliantincoloring,butthecolorisverysusceptibletoatmosphericchanges,andafterheavyrainsthebrighthuesfade,sometimesonly leaving a slight traceof theoriginal coloring in the centraldepressionofthecap.

The cap in youth is somewhat hemispherical, afterwards expanding,becoming slightly depressed in the centre, somewhat brittle in texture; gillsrigid,fragile,withacuteedge;stemthick,blunt,andpolished,usuallyshort.The spores are globose, or nearly so, slightly rough, white or yellowish,according to the species. In R. virescens the spores are white, while in R.alutaceathesporesareanochraceousyellowintint.

Anumberofthespeciesareofpleasantflavor,otherspepperyoracrid.Outofseventy-two described by Cooke, twenty-four are recorded as acrid. Withsome of these the acridity is said to disappear in cooking, and a fewmycophagists claim to have eaten all varieties with impunity. We haverecorded, however, some well authenticated cases of serious gastricdisturbance, accompanied by acute inflammation of themucousmembrane,causedby themoreacridof these,notablyR.emeticaandR. fœtens,and inviewofthisfactitwouldseemawiseprecautionfortheamateurcollectortodiscard or at least to use very sparingly all those which have an acrid orpepperytaste,untilwellassuredastotheirwholesomeness.

Thegenus Russula has been divided into the following tribes or groups:—Compactæ,Furcatæ,Rigidæ,Heterophylla,andFragiles.ThespeciesRussula(Rigidæ)virescens, illustrated inPlate I, belongs to the tribeRigidæ. In theplantsof thisgroup, thecapisabsolutelydryandrigid,destituteofaviscidpellicle; thecuticlecommonlybreakingup into flocciorgranules; the fleshthick,compact,andfirm,vanishingnearthemargin,whichisneverinvolute,andshowsnostriations.Thegillsareirregularinlength,somefewreachinghalfwayto thestem, theothersdivided,dilated,andextendingintoabroadroundedend,stemsolid.

RUSSULAVIRESCENSFR.(EDIBLE)TheVerdetteFromNature

CollectedintheDistrictofColumbiaReportofMicroscopist,U.S.DepartmentofAgriculture1893

L.Krieger,Pinx.AVIL.CO.LITH.PHILA.

PLATEI.

RussulavirescensFries.“TheVerdette”or“GreenishRussula.”

EDIBLE.

Thecapofthisspeciesisfleshyanddry,theskinbreakingintothinpatches.Themarginisusuallyeven,butspecimensoccurwhichshowstriations.Thecolorvariesfromalightgreentoagrayishormoldygreen,sometimestingedwith yellow; gills white, free from the stem or nearly so, unequal, rather

crowded;stemwhite,stout,solid,smooth,at firsthard, thenspongy;sporeswhite,nearlyglobose.

Onewriterspeaksofthe“warts”ofthecap,butthetermwarts,usedinthisconnection, refers merely to the patches resulting from the splitting orbreakingupoftheepidermisofthecap,andnottosuchexcrescencescalledwarts, as are commonly observed on the cap of Amanita muscaria, forinstance,whichareremnantsofthevolva.

TheR.virescens isnotascommonas someothersof theRussulæ, in somelocalities,andhithertoseemstohaveattractedbutlittleattentionasanediblespeciesinthiscountry,althoughhighlyesteemedinEurope.IthasbeenfoundgrowinginthinwoodsinMarylandandinVirginiafromJunetoNovember,andwe have had reports of its growth fromNewYork andMassachusetts.ThepeasantsinItalyareinthehabitoftoastingthesemushroomsoverwoodembers, eating them afterwards with a little salt. Vittadini, Roques, andCordierspeakhighlyofitsesculentqualitiesandgoodflavor.WehaveeatenquantitiesofthevirescensgatheredinWashington,D.C.,anditssuburbs,andfounditjuicyandofgoodflavorwhencooked.

EXPLANATIONOFPLATEI.

PlateIexhibitsfourviewsofthismushroom(R.virescens)drawnandcoloredfromnature.Fig.1,theimmatureplant;Fig.2,advancedstageofgrowth,capexpandedorplane;Fig.3,sectionshowingtheunequallengthofthegillsandmanner of their attachment to the stem; Fig. 4, surface view of the capshowingtheepidermissplitincharacteristicirregularpatches;Fig.5,spores,white.

AGARICINI.

COPRINARII(SPORESBLACKORNEARLYSO).

Genus Coprinus Fries. Hymenophore distinct from the stem. Gillsmembranaceous, at first coherent from the pressure, then dissolving into ablackfluid.Tramaobsolete.Spores,oval,even,black.M.C.Cooke.

Theplants of this genushavebeendivided into two tribes, viz.,PelliculosiandVeliformis.InthePelliculosithegillsofthemushroomsarecoveredwithafleshyormembranaceouscuticle,hence thecap isnot furrowedalong thelines of the gills, but is torn and revolute. In this tribe are included theComati,Atramentarii,Picacei,Tomentosi,MicacioandGlabrati.InthetribeVeliformistheplantsaregenerallyverysmall,andthecapmuchthinnerthanin thoseof thePelliculosi, soonshowingdistinct furrowsalong thebackofthe gills, which quickly melt into very thin lines. The stem is thin andfistulose.

Cordier states that all the species ofCoprinus are edible when young andfresh.Thisisprobablytrue,butmostofthemhavesolittlesubstanceandareso ephemeral as to be of small value for food purposes. C. comatus, C.atramentarius,C. micaceus, andC. ovatus have the preference with mostmycophagists,buteventhesesoonmelt,andshouldbegatheredpromptlyandcookedimmediatelytobeofuseforthetable.

COPRINUSCOMATUSFR.(EDIBLE)TheManedMushroomfromNatureCollectedintheDistrictofColumbia

ReportofMicroscopist,U.S.DepartmentofAgriculture1893L.Krieger,Pinx.

AVIL.CO.LITH.PHILA.

PLATEII.

CoprinuscomatusFries.ManedorShaggyCoprinus.

EDIBLE.

Capatfirstoblongorcylindrical,thencampanulate,thecuticlebreakingintoshaggyfibrousscales,colorwhitish,thescalesgenerallyyelloworyellowish,margin revolute and lacerated, soon becoming black.Gills linear, free, andclose together, at first white, then pink or purplish, turning to black. Stemholloworslightlystuffed,nearlyequal,somewhatfibrillose,withbulbsolid;theringmovableorveryslightlyadherent,generallydisappearingastheplantmatures.Sporesoval,black,.0005to.0007in.long.

This species is found in abundance in different parts of the United States,generallyinrichsoil,inpastures,byroadsides,indumpinglots,etc.Oflateyears quantities have been gathered in the lawn surrounding the Capitolgrounds,andintheparksoftheDistrictofColumbia,aswellasinthedébrisofthewoodenblockpavementsusedforsurfacesoilinggardensinvicinityofthecapital.Theyhavebeenofferedforsaleinopenmarketaslowas25centsperpound.

A correspondent from Rochester, New York, states that in a patch of hisgrounds which had been quarried out and filled with street sweepings theCoprinus comatus appeared in such quantities as to make it impossible towalk over the space without stepping upon them, and that he was able togatherfromthissmallspacefromonetotwobushelsatatimeinthespringand the fall. In flavor the C. comatus resembles the cultivated mushroom,thoughperhapsmoredelicate.

TheCoprinusovatus,“OvalCoprinus,”acloselyalliedspecies, issimilartothe comatus, but smaller, more ovate in shape and delicate in flavor, lessdeliquescent; stemusually 3/4 of an inch long. TheCoprinus atramentariushasamouse-grayorbrownishcapwithirregularmargin,slightlystriated.Itisnot shaggy, but is spottedwithminute, innate punctate scales. The stem ishollow,somewhatringedwhenyoung.Sporeselliptical,black.

Coprinus micaceus is a very common species, and is found generally inclusters on old tree stumps or on decayingwood. The cap is thin and of areddish buff or ochraceous tint, often showing a sprinkling of glisteningmicaceous scales or granules; gills crowded, whitish. It is at first ovate orbell-shaped,thenexpanding;striated.Thestemiswhite,slender,andhollow,notringed.Thesporesinthisspeciesareaverydarkbrown,whichisunusualinthegenusCoprinus.

It isgenerallyfoundindecayingwoodoroldtree-stumps,growingindenseclusters.

Prof. Peck says: “Europeanwriters do not record the ‘Glistening coprinus‘among the edible species, perhaps because of its small size. But itcompensatesforitslackofsizebyitsfrequencyandabundance.Intendernessanddelicacyitdoesnotappeartobeatallinferiortothe‘Shaggycoprinus.’”

EXPLANATIONOFPLATEII.

CoprinuscomatusFr.TheShaggyManedMushroom.

Fig.1.Ayoungplant.Fig.2.Aplantpartlyexpanded,exposingthetenderpinkofthegills.Fig.3.Amatureplant,bell-shapedandshaggy,withmovablering

detachedfromthecap,andwithstemunequalandrooting.Fig.4.Asectionalview,showinghollowstem,thincap,andbroad,free,

lineargill.Fig.5.Sporesblack.

AGARICINI.

LEUCOSPORI(SPORESWHITE,ORYELLOWISH.)

Genus Marasmius Fries.—Tough dry shrivelling fungi—not putrescent,revivingwhenmoistened;veilnone.Stemcartilaginousorhorny.Gillstough,ratherdistant,edgeacuteandentire.M.C.Cooke.

Acharacteristicof thespeciesof thisgenus is their tendency towitherwithdrought and revive withmoisture. This biological characteristic is of greatimportance in determining the trueMarasmii. The plants are usually smallandoflittlesubstance.

Cooke divides theMarasmii into three tribes, and these again into severalsubdivisions. In the division Scortei of this genus are classed three specieswhich are described in the works of most of the Continental writers; theMarasmius oreades,which has recognized value as an esculent,MarasmiusurensandMarasmiusperonatus,whichhavethereputationofbeingacridandunwholesome.

MARASMIUSOREADESFR.(EDIBLE)TheFairyRingMushroom.

ReportofMicroscopist,U.S.DepartmentofAgriculture1893L.K.afterGillet.

AVIL.CO.LITH.PHILA.

PLATEIII.

MarasmiusoreadesFries.“FairyRingMushroom.”

EDIBLE.

Capfleshy,convexatfirst,thennearlyplane,paleyellowishred,ortawnyredwhenyoung,fadingtoyelloworbuffastheplantmatures,slightlyumbonate,fleshwhite; gills broad,wide apart, roundedor deeplynotched at the innerextremity, slightly attached to or at length free from the stem, unequal inlength, whitish or creamy yellow in color; stem slender, solid and tough,whitish, generally one to two inches in length and one-fourth of an inch inthickness,showingawhitishdown,easilyremoved,notstrigoseorvillose,asintheMarasmiusurens.Sporeswhite.

Thisspeciesisusuallyfoundinopengrassyplaces,sometimesinrings,orinpartsofrings,ofteninclusters,andwritersgenerallyagreeastoitsagreeabletasteandodor.Whenproperlycookeditstoughnessdisappears.

Prof. Peck describes two mushrooms which are somewhat similar inappearancetothe“FairyRing,”andwhichmightbe takenfor itbycarelessobservers, viz., the Naucoria semi-orbicularis, sometimes growing incompany with it, and the Collybia dryophila, a wood variety which issometimesfoundinopenplaces.

Thefirstofthesemaybedistinguishedfromtheoreades,bytherustybrowncolorofthegills,itssmoothstemandrustycoloredspores.Inthesecondthegillsaremuchnarrowerandthestemisverysmoothandhollow.

TheMarasmiusurensasdescribedbyEuropeanauthorshasapalebuffcap,notumbonatebutflat,andatlengthdepressedinthecentre,fromonetotwoinches across. The gills are unequal, free, very crowded; cream color,becoming brownish. The stem is solid and fibrous, densely covered withwhitedownat thebase. It isveryacrid to the taste. Inhabitofgrowth it issubcæspitose;sometimesfoundgrowingincompanywiththeM.oreades.

Prof.PecksaysofM.urens thathehasnotyetseenanAmericanspecimenwhichhecouldrefertothatspecieswithsatisfaction.Ourexperience,sofar,isthesameasthatofProf.Peck.

Marasmiusperonatushasareddishbuffcap,withcrowdedthingills,creamy,turningtoreddishbrown;thestemsolidandfibrous,withyellowishfilamentsat the base. It is acrid in taste and is usually found among fallen leaves in

woods.

EXPLANATIONOFPLATEIII.

InPlateIII,Fig.1representsanimmatureplant;Fig.2,capexpandingwithgrowth; Fig. 3, cap further expanded and slightly umbonate; Fig. 4,maturespecimen, cap plane or fully expanded, margin irregular and smooth, stemequal, smooth and ringless; Fig. 5, section showing gills broad, free,ventricose,unequal,andfleshwhite;Fig.6,sporeswhite.

APPENDIXA.

PRESERVINGANDCOOKINGMUSHROOMS.

In Europe several species of mushrooms are preserved by boiling andafterwards placing them in earthern jars or tubs filledwithwater,which isrenewed from time to time.This simpleandeconomicalmethodofkeepingmushrooms affords the people considerable provision. With regard to thepreparationoffreshmushroomsfortableuse,Dr.Roques,aneminentwriteron fungi, gives the following excellent suggestions: “After selecting goodmushrooms,removetheskinorepidermis,cuttingawaythegills,andinsomecasesthestem,whichisusuallyofnotsofineatexture.

“It is importanttocollectforuseonlyyoungandwell-preservedspecimens,becauseamushroomofexcellentqualitymay,nevertheless,whenovermatureor near its decline, become dangerous for food. It then acts as does everyother food substance which incipient decomposition has rendered acrid,irritatingandindigestible.It is,moreover,rarelythecasethatmushroomsintheirdeclinearenotchangedbythepresenceoflarvæ.”

InGenevaaverylucrativetradeiscarriedonintheexportationofthe“EdibleBoletus,”which ispreserved foruse invariousways, the simplestofwhichconsistsincuttingthecapsinslicesandstringingthem,afterwhichtheyareplacedonhurdles in theshade todry.Theymayalsobedried inastoveoroven,buttheformermethodispreferable,asthemushroomthenretainsmoreofitsflavororperfume.Whentheslicesareperfectlydriedtheyareputintosacksand suspended inadry, airyplace.Sometimesbefore themushroomsareslicedtheyareplungedintoboilingwaterforaninstant,whichtreatmentis said to preserve them from the ravages of insects. Several kinds ofmushrooms are preserved in the following manner: After they have beenproperlywashedandcleansed,theyareboiledinsaltedwaterandafterwardswiped dry. They are then placed in layers, in jars, sprinkled with salt andpepper, and covered with pure olive oil or vinegar. Lactarius deliciosus,Cantharelluscibarius,Morchellas,Clavarias,etc.,arethuspreserved.Beforeusingthedriedmushroomstheyaresoakedintepidwaterforsometimeandafterwardspreparedasiffresh,withtheusualseasoning.

RECEIPTS.

Broiledprocerus.—Removethescalesandstalksfromtheagarics,andbroillightlyonboth sidesoveraclear fire fora fewminutes;arrange themonadishoverfreshlymade,well-butteredtoast;sprinklewithpepperandsaltandputasmallpieceofbutteroneach;setbeforeabriskfiretomeltthebutter,and serve quickly. Bacon toasted overmushrooms improves the flavor andsavesthebutter.

Agarics delicately stewed.—Remove the stalks and scales from the younghalf-grown agarics, and throw each one as you do so into a basin of freshwater slightly acidulatedwith the juice of a lemon or a little good vinegar.When all are prepared, remove them from the water and put them in astewpanwithaverysmallpieceoffreshbutter.Sprinklewithpepperandsaltandaddalittlelemonjuice;coverupcloselyandstewforhalfanhour;thenaddaspoonfulofflourwithsufficientcreamorcreamandmilk,tillthewholehas the thicknessofcream.Seasonto taste,andstewagainuntil theagaricsareperfectlytender.Removeallthebutterfromthesurfaceandserveinahotdishgarnishedwithslicesoflemon.Alittlemaceornutmegorcatsupmaybeadded,butsomethinkthatspicespoilstheflavor.

Cottager’sproceruspie.—Cutfreshagaricsinsmallpieces;pepper,salt,andplacethemonsmallshredsofbacon,inthebottomofapiedish;thenputinalayerofmashedpotatoes,andsofillthedish,layerbylayer,withacoverofmashedpotatoesforthecrust.Bakewellforhalfanhourandbrownbeforeaquickfire.

Alaprovencale.—Steepfortwohoursinsomesalt,pepper,andalittlegarlic;thentossthemintoasmallstewpanoverabriskfirewithparsleychoppedandalittlelemonjuice.

Agariccatsup.—Placetheagaricsofaslargeasizeasyoucanprocure,layerbylayer,inadeeppan,sprinklingeachlayerasitisputinwithalittlesalt.Then next day stir them several timeswell so as tomash and extract theirjuice.Onthethirddaystrainofftheliquor,measureandboilfortenminutes,andthentoeverypintofliquoraddhalfanounceofblackpepper,aquarterofan ounce of bruised ginger root, a blade of mace, a clove or two, and ateaspoonfulofmustardseed.Boilagainforhalfanhour;putintwoorthreebay leavesandsetasideuntilquitecold.Pass througha strainerandbottle;corkwell and dip salt on the gills. Lay them top downwards on a gridironoveramoderatefireforfiveorsixminutesatthemost.

To stew mushrooms.—Trim and rub clean half a pint of large buttonmushrooms.Put intoastewpan2ouncesofbutter;shakeitoverafireuntilthoroughlymelted;putinthemushrooms,ateaspoonfulofsalt,halfasmuchpepper,andabladeofmacepounded;stewuntil themushroomsare tender,thenserveonahotdish.Thisisusuallyabreakfastdish.

Mushrooms à la crême.—Trim and rub half a pint of button mushrooms;dissolveinastewpan2ouncesofbutterrolledinflour;putinthemushrooms,a bunch of parsley, a teaspoonful of salt, half a teaspoonful each of whitepepperandofpowderedsugar;shakethepanfortenminutes;thenbeatuptheyolksof twoeggswith two tablespoonfulsofcream,andaddbydegrees tothemushrooms;intwoorthreeminutesyoucanservetheminsauce.

Mushrooms on toast.—Put a pint of mushrooms into a stewpan with twoouncesofbutterrolledinflour;addateaspoonfulofsalt,halfateaspoonfulofwhitepepper,abladeofpowderedmace,andahalfa teaspoonfulofgratedlemon;stewuntilthebutterisallabsorbed;thenserveontoastassoonasthemushroomsaretender.

APPENDIXB.

GLOSSARYOFTERMSUSEDINDESCRIBINGMUSHROOMS.

Abortive,imperfectlydeveloped.Acaulescent,acaulous,havingaveryshortstemornone.Acetabuliform,cup-shaped.Acicular,needle-shaped.Aculeate,slenderpointed.Acuminate,terminatinginapoint.Acute,sharppointed.Adnate,gillsfirmlyattachedtothestem.Adnexed,gillsjustreachingthestem.Adpressed,pressedinclosecontact,asappliedtogills.Æruginous,verdigris-green.Agglutinated,gluedtothesurface.Aggregated,collectedtogether.Alveolate,socketedorhoneycombed.Amphigenous,whenthehymeniumisnotrestrictedtoaparticular

surface.Analogy,superficialorgeneralresemblancewithoutstructural

agreement.Anastomosing,branching,joiningofoneveinwithanother.Annular,ring-shaped.Annulate,havingaring.Annulus,ringroundthestemofagarics.Apex,inmushroomstheextremityofthestemnearestthegill.Apical,closetotheapex.Apiculate,terminatinginasmallpoint.Appendiculate,hanginginsmallfragments.Approximate,ofgillswhichapproachthestembutdonotreachit.Arachnoid,cobweb-like.Arboreal,arboricle,tree-inhabiting.Arcuate,bow-shaped.Areolate,dividedintolittleareasorpatches.Argillaceous,clayey,likeclay.Ascending,directedupward.Asci,ascidia,spore-casesofcertainmushrooms.Attenuated,taperinggraduallytoapointupwardordownward.

Band,abroadbarofcolor.Banded,markedwithbands.Barbed,furnishedwithfibrilsorhairs.Basidia,cellularprocessesofcertainmushroom-bearingspores.Bibliography,condensedhistoryoftheliteratureofasubject.Bifurcated,dividedintotwo,asinthegillsofcertainagarics.Booted,appliedtothestemofamushroomwheninclosedinasheathor

volva.Boss,aknoborshortroundedprotuberance.Bossed,bullate,furnishedwithabossorknob.Branched,dividingfromthesides;alsostyledfurcateandforked.Brick,tradetermforamassofmushroomspawn,indimensionsthesize

ofabrickofmasonry.Broad,wideordeepvertically.Bulbous,havingthestructureofabulb.

Cæspitose,growingintufts.Calcareous,chalky,chalk-like.Calyptra,appliedtotheportionofvolvacoveringthepileus.Campanulate,bell-shaped.Canaliculate,channelled.Cancellate,latticed,markedbothlongitudinallyandtransversely.Cap,theexpanded,umbrella-likereceptacleofthecommonmushroom.Capillitium,spore-bearingthreads,variableinthicknessandcolor,

sometimescontinuouswiththesterilebase,sometimesfree,dense,andpersistent,orlaxandevanescent,oftenbranched;foundintheLycoperdons.

Carious,decayed.Carneous,fleshy.Cartilaginous,hardandtough.Castaneous,chestnutcolor.Ceraceous,wax-like.Channelled,hollowedoutlikeagutter.Chlorosis,lossofcolor.Cilia,marginalhair-likeprocesses.Ciliate,fringedwithhair-likeprocesses.Cinerous,ash-colored.Circinate,rounded.Clathrate,latticed.Clavate,club-shaped,graduallythickenedupward.Close,packedcloselysidebyside;alsostyledcrowded.Columella,asteriletissuerisingcolumn-likeinthemidstofthe

capillitium,servingasapointofinsertionforthethreadswhichconnectitwiththeperidiumintheformofanet-work.

Concentric,havingacommoncenter,asaseriesofringsonewithinanother.

Connate,unitedbygrowing,aswhentwoormorecapsbecomeunited.Concolored,ofauniformcolor.Confervoid,fromthefinelybranchedthreads.Continuous,withoutabreak,ofasurfacewhichisnotcracked,orofone

partwhichrunsintoanotherwithoutinterruption.Cordate,heart-shaped.Coriaceous,ofaleatherytexture.Corrugated,drawnintowrinklesorfolds.Corticated,furnishedwithabark-likecovering.Cortina,apartialveilformednotofcontinuoustissuebutofslender

threads,whichincertainmushroomswhenyoungunitethestemwiththemarginofthecap.Thismembraneremainslaterasafilamentousringonthestem,orthreadshangingtothemarginofcap.AppliedtothepeculiarveiloftheCortinarias.

Cratera,acup-shapedreceptacle.Crenate,crenulate,notchedattheedge,thenotchesbluntorrounded,

notsharpasinaserratededge,serraturesconvex.Cribrose,piercedwithholes.Cryptogamia,appliedtothedivisionofnonfloweringplants.Cupreous,copper-colored.Cuspidate,withasharp,spear-likepoint.Cyathiform,cup-shaped.Cystidia,sterilecellsofthehymenium,generallylargerthanthebasidia

cells,withwhichtheyarefound.

Deciduous,temporaryfallingoff.Decurrent,aswhenthegillsofamushroomareprolongeddownthe

stem.Dehiscent,aclosedorganopeningofitselfatmaturity,orwhenithas

attainedacertaindevelopment.Deliquescent,relatingtomushroomswhichatmaturitybecomeliquid.Dentate,toothed,withconcaveserratures.Denticulate,finelydentate.Dermini,brownorrustcoloredspores.Determinate,endingdefinitely;havingadistinctlydefinedoutline.Diaphanous,transparent.

Dichotomous,pairedbytwos;regularlyforked.Dimidiate,appliedtosomegillsofmushroomswhichreachonly

halfwaytothestem.Disciform,ofacircular,flatform.Dissepiments,dividingwalls.Distant,appliedtogillswhichhaveawidedistancebetweenthem.Divaricate,separatingatanobtuseangle.

Echinate,furnishedwithstiffbristles.Echinulate,withminutebristles.Effused,spreadoverwithoutregularform.Elongate,lengthened.Emarginate,appliedtogillswhicharenotchedorscoopedoutsuddenly

beforetheyreachthestem.Embryo,themushroombeforeleavingitsvolvaoreggstage;alsoany

earlystageofmushroomswhichmayhavenovolva.Entire,theedgequitedevoidofserratureornotch.Epidermis,theexternalorouterlayeroftheplant.Epiphytal,growinguponanotherplant.Equal,allgillsofthesame,ornearlythesamelengthfrombacktofront.Eroded,theedgeragged,asiftorn.Etiolated,whitened,bleached.Even,distinguishedfromsmooth:asurfacequiteplaneascontrasted

withonewhichisstriate,pitted,etc.Excentric,outofcenter.Thestemsofsomemushroomsarealways

excentric.Exotic,foreign.

Family,asystematicgroupinscientificclassificationembracingagreaterorlessnumberofgenerawhichagreeincertaincharactersnotsharedbyothersofthesameorder.

Farinaceous,mealy.Farinose,coveredwithawhite,mealypowder.Fascia,abandorbar.Fasciate,zonedwithbands.Fasciculate,growinginsmallbundles.Fastigiate,bundledtogetherlikeasheath.Favose,honeycombed.Ferruginous,rust-colored.Fibrillose,clothedwithsmallfibers.Fibrous,composedoffibers.Filiform,thread-like.

Fimbriated,fringed.Fissile,capableofbeingsplit.Fistular,fistulose,tubular.Flabelliform,fan-shaped.Flavescent,yellowish,orturningyellow.Flexuose,wavy.Flocci,threadsasofmold.Floccose,downy.Flocculose,coveredwithflocci.Foveolate,pitted.Free,inrelationtothegillsofmushroomsreachingthestembutnot

attachedtoit.Fringe,alaceratedmarginalmembrane.Fructification,reproducingpowerofaplant.Fugacious,disappearingrapidly.Furcate,forked.Fuliginous,blackishorsooty.Fulvous,tawny;aratherindefinitebrownishyellow.Furfuraceous,withbrannyscalesorscurf.Fuscous,brownish,butdingy;notpure.Fusiform,spindle-shaped.

Genera,pluralofgenus.Generic,pertainingtoagenus.Genus,agroupofspecieshavingoneormorecharacteristicsin

common;theunionofseveralgenerapresentingthesamefeaturesconstitutesatribe.

Gibbous,intheformofaswelling;ofapileuswhichismoreconvexortumidononesidethantheother.

Gills,verticalplatesradiatingfromthestemontheundersurfaceofthemushroomcap.

Glabrous,smooth.Glaucescent,incliningtoglaucose.Glaucose,coveredwithawhitish-greenbloomorfinewhitepowder

easilyrubbedoff.Globose,nearlyspherical.Granular,withroughenedsurface.Greaved,ofastemclothedlikealeginarmor.Gregarious,ofmushroomsnotsolitarybutgrowinginnumbersinthe

samelocality.Grumous,clotted;composedoflittleclusteredgrains.Guttate,markedwithtear-likespots.

Gyrose,circlinginwavyfolds.

Habitat,naturalabodeofavegetablespecies.Hepatic,pertainingtotheliver;hence,liver-colored.Heterogeneous,ofastructurewhichisdifferentfromadjacentones.Hibernal,pertainingtowinter.Hirsute,hairy.Homogeneous,similarinstructure.Hyaline,transparent.Hygrophanous,lookingwaterywhenmoistandopaquewhendry.Hymenium,thefructifyingsurfaceofthemushroom;thepartonwhich

thesporesareborne.Hymenophore,thestructurewhichbearsthehymenium.Hypogæous,subterranean.

Identification,thedeterminationofthespeciestowhichagivenspecimenbelongs.

Identify,todeterminethesystematicnameofaspecimen.Imbricate,overlappedliketiles.Immarginate,withoutadistinctborder.Immersed,sunkintothematrix.Incised,cutout;cutaway.Indehiscent,notopening.Indigenous,nativeofacountry.Inferior,growingbelow;oftheringofanagaric,whichisfardownon

thestem.Infundibuliform,funnel-shaped.Innate,adheringbygrowinginto.Inserted,growinglikeagraftfromitsstock.Involute,edgesrolledinward.

Laciniate,dividedintoflaps.Lactescent,milk-bearing.Lacunose,pittedorhavingcavities.Lamellæ,gillsofmushrooms.Lanceolate,lance-shaped;taperingtobothends.Lateral,attachedtooneside.Latex,theviscidfluidcontainedinsomemushrooms.Laticiferous,appliedtothetubesconveyinglatex,asintheLactarias.Lepidote,scurfywithminutescales.Leucospore,whitespore.Ligneous,woodyconsistency.

Linear,narrowandstraight.Linguiform,tongue-shaped.

AUTHORITIESCONSULTED.

Fries, Saccardo, Kromholtz, Cooke and Berkeley, M. C. Cooke, Peck,Stevenson,Badham,Gillet,Boyer,Gibson,Roques,Hussey,Hay,Bel,PauletandLeveille,ConstantinandDufour,Barla,Roze,W.G.Smith,Vittadini.

STUDENT’SHAND-BOOKOF

MUSHROOMSOFAMERICA

EDIBLEANDPOISONOUS.

BYTHOMASTAYLOR,M.D.AUTHOROFFOODPRODUCTS,ETC.

PublishedinSerialForm—No.2—Price,50c.pernumber.

WASHINGTON,D.C.:A.R.TAYLOR,PUBLISHER,238MASS.AVE.N.E.

1897.

ThetenmushroomsillustratedinthefiveplatescontainedinthefirstnumberofthisseriesbelongtothefamilyHymenomycetes.Inthepresentnumberarepresented illustrations representing three additional specimens of theHymenomycetal fungi (PlatesV,VI, andVII). There are also presented, inplatesCandD, illustrationsofninespeciescomprised in fourgeneraof thesubfamilyDiscomycetes,ofthefamilyAscomycetes.

Copyright,1897,byTHOMASTAYLOR,M.D.,

and

A.R.TAYLOR.

ASCOMYCETES.Fruit,consistingofsporidia,mostlydefinite,containedinasci,springingfromanakedorenclosedstratumoffructifyingcells,andformingahymenium.—CookeandBerkeley.

Prof.J.deSeynestatesthatthethreeelementswhichformthehymeniuminthe families Hymenomycetes and Gasteromycetes are (1) the normalbasidium, that is, the fruitful club-shaped cell which supports the nakedspores,(2)thecystidiumorsterilecell,anabortedoratrophiedbasidium,and(3) the paraphyses, hypertrophied basidium, the one organ, the basidium,beingthebasisofitall,accordingasitexperiencesanarrestofdevelopment,asitgrowsandfructifies,orasitbecomeshypertrophied.

InthefamilyAscomycetesaminuteascusorsporecaseenvelopsthesporidia,andtakestheplaceofthebasidium,andthehymeniumconsistsof(1)theascicontaining the sporidia, (2) theparaphyses, and (3)a colorlessoryellowishmucilagewhichenvelopstheparaphysesandasci.Theasciarepresentinallspecies. In some species, however, the paraphyses are rare, and themucilaginoussubstanceisentirelywanting.Theascidifferinshapeandsize,accordingtothespecies.Theparaphyses,whenpresent,areatfirstveryshort,buttheyrapidlyelongate,andarewhollydevelopedbeforetheappearanceoftheasci.Theyarelinear,simpleorbranchedaccordingtothespeciesofplant,usuallycontainingoilygranules.Thereissomedifferenceofopinionamongmycologists as to the special functionsof theparaphyses, someconsideringthemas abortive asci, andothers, likeBoudier, as excitatoryorgans for thedehiscenceoftheasci,bywhichthesporesareliberated.

ThefamilyAscomycetesisrichingeneraandspecies.

Itconsists largelyofmicroscopic fungi,however,and theonlygroupwhichwillbeconsideredhereisthatwhichincludesplantsofthemushroomfamilywhich are edible and indigenous to this country, viz., the sub-familyDiscomycetes.

DISCOMYCETES.ThenameDiscomycetes,“disk-likefungi,”doesnotgiveanaccurateideaofthe distinguishing characteristics of this sub-family, the discoid form onlybelonging to the plants of one of its groups. In the Discomyceteæ thehymeniumissuperior,thatis,disposedupontheupperorexteriorsurfaceofthemushroomcap.Thesporidiaareproducedinmembraneousasci,usuallyfour or eight, or somemultiple of that number, in each ascus; Cooke says“rarely four, most commonly eight.” The sporidia are usually hyaline,transparent;coloredsporidiaarerare.

Theasciaresominuteastobeimperceptibletothenakedeye;butifasmallportionoftheuppersurfaceofthecapisremovedwithapenknifeandplacedunderamicroscopehavingamagnifyingpoweroffrom400to800diameters,theasci,orsporesacks,canbeseparatedandtheirstructurestudied.

OfthegeneraincludedintheDiscomycetesthegenusPezizacomprisesbyfarthelargestnumberofdescribedspecies.Theplantsinthisgenusaregenerallysmall, thin, and tough. A few of them have been recorded as edible byEuropeanauthors,butnotspeciallycommended;oneform,Pezizacochleata,hasbeenspokenofbyBerkeleyasbeinggatheredinbasketfulsinonecountyinEngland,whereitisusedasasubstitute,thoughaveryindifferentone,fortheMorel.

Vittadini says the Verpa digitaliformis Persoon, a small brownish-coloredmushroom,issoldinItalianmarketsforsoups,butthat,“althoughsoldinthemarkets,itisonlytoberecommendedwhennootherfungusoffers,whichissometimesthecaseinthespring.”P.aurantiaVahl.,asmallPezizagrowingin clusters in the grass, is reported as edible by a member of the BostonMycologicalClub,whospeakswellofit.

The generaMorchella, Gyromitra, Helvella, andMitrula contain, however,whatmaybeconsideredthemostdesirableediblespecies.TypesofthesefourgroupsarerepresentedinFigs.1,3,5,7,and10,PlateC.

The plants of these genera have a stem and cap. The cap, however, differsverymuchfromthatof theordinarymushroom.In thegenusMorchella thecapisdeeplypittedandridgedsothatitpresentsahoneycombedappearance.InGyromitrathecapisconvolutelylobedbutnotpitted.InHelvellathecapisveryirregularandreflexed,andinMitrulathecapisovateorclubshapedandsmooth.Inallfourofthesegenerathehymeniumissuperior,i.e.,itisontheupperandoutersurfaceofthecap,theinteriorsurfacebeingbarren.

InPlatesCandDare figured9 typesofedible fungi included in thefamily

Ascomycetes,sub-familyDiscomycetes.

ASCOMYCETESSUB-FAMILYDISCOMYCETES

TYPESOFFOUROFTHELEADINGGENERAOFDISCOMYCETES,INWHICHOCCUREDIBLESPECIES

T.TAYLOR,DEL.THENORRISPETERSCO.,PHOTO-LITHO.,WASHINGTON,D.C.

PLATEC.

FIG.1.MorchellaesculentaPers.“CommonMorel.”

EDIBLE.

GenusMorchellaDill.Receptaclepileateorclavate,imperviousinthecentre,stipitate,coveredwithhymenium,whichisdeeplyfoldedandpitted.—Cooke.

In this genus the species have a general resemblance to each other in size,color, form, texture,andflavor.Thecap isusuallyadullyellow,sometimesslightly olive-tinted, darkening with age to a brownish leather tinge. Thestems are stout and hollow, white or whitish. This genus has a very widegeographicaldistribution,butthespeciesarenotnumerous.Cookedescribestwenty-four, some of them found in India, Java,Great Britain, Central and

NorthernEurope,Australia, andNorthAmerica. Peck describes six speciesfound inNewYorkState.The linesofdemarcationbetweenspeciesarenotverydecided;butasnoneofthespeciesareknowntobepoisonous,itmaybeconsideredasafegenustoexperimentwith.

IntheMorchellaesculentathecapisovate,inonevarietyrotund,themarginattachingitselftothestem;ribsfirmandanastomosing,formingdeephollowsor pits; color yellowish tan, olivaceous; spores hyaline, colorless; asci verylong.TheMorel,thoughrareinsomelocalities,isfoundinlargequantitiesinsomeofthemidwesternStates,sometimesinthewoodsalongthebordersofstreams,ofteninpeachorchards,attherootsofdecayingtrees.

IaminformedbycorrespondentswhohavecollectedandeatenthemthattheMorelscanbegatheredinabundanceinthespringtimealongthebanksoftheMissouri and tributary streams. A lieutenant in the United States ArmyinformsmethathefoundfinespecimensofthisspeciesinthemountainsofCalifornia,fiveorsixthousandfeetabovesea-level.Acorrespondent,Mr.H.W.Henshaw,writesthathehasmademanyexcellentmealsofthem,findingthemon the banks ofChicoCreek, SacramentoValley,California, onGen.Bidwell’sranch, inApril.Acorrespondent inMinnesotawrites:“TheMorelgrows abundantly in some places here, but so prejudiced are many of thenatives against ‘toad-stools’ that I had to eat theMorel alone for a wholeseasonbeforeIcouldinduceanyoneelsetotasteit.”Mr.HollisWebster,oftheBostonMycologicalClub, reports theMorchellaconica as appearing inabundanceineasternMassachusetts inMayof thisyear.Acorrespondent inWestVirginia reports thatquantitiesofa large-sizedMorelare found in themountainregionsthere.

IhavereportsalsooftheappearanceoftheMorelinWesternNewYork,andon the coast ofMaine andofOregon.Aminerwrites tome fromMontanathat he and several otherminers, having lost theirway in themountains ofthat State during the spring of the year, subsisted entirely for five days onMorelswhichtheycollected.

The specimen represented in Plate C, Fig. 1, is figured from a MorchellaesculentawhichgrewinthevicinityofFallsChurch,Va.,lessthantenmilesfrom the District of Columbia. The reports which I have received fromcorrespondents in twenty States show that theMorel is not so rare in thiscountry as was formerly supposed. The advantages which this mushroompossesses over some others are (1) the readiness with which it can bedistinguished,(2)itskeepingqualities,and(3)itsagreeabletaste.Itiseasilydried,andinthatconditioncanbekeptalongtimewithoutlosingitsflavor.Though ithasnot the rich flavorof thecommonfieldmushroom, it isverypalatablewhen cooked, andwhendried it is often used in soups. It is very

generallyesteemedasanesculentamongmycophagists.

Fig. 2 represents the sporidia enclosed in the ascus, or spore sack, withaccompanyingparaphyses.

FIG.3.GyromitraesculentaFries.“EsculentGyromitra.”

Genus Gyromitra Fries. This genus contains very few species, but all areconsiderededible,thoughdifferingsomewhatinflavoranddigestibility.FiveorsixspeciesarefiguredbyCooke.PeckspeaksofseveralspeciesfoundinNewYork.Oneofthese,G.curtipesFries,isalsofiguredbyCookeasfoundin North Carolina. This species Cooke regards as equal in flavor to G.esculenta. G. esculenta has a rounded, inflated cap, irregularly lobed andhollow,smoothandbrittleintexture,reddishbrown.Itfallsoverthesteminheavyconvolutions,touchingitatvariouspoints.Thestemisstout,stuffed,atlength hollow, whitish or cinereous; spores elliptical with two nuclei,yellowish,translucent.Theplantisusuallyfromtwotofourinchesinheight,butlargerspecimensarefound.

Fig.4representsthesporesackwithenclosedsporidia.

Mr.CharlesL.Fox,ofPortland,Maine,recordstheGyromitraesculenta,ofwhichhesentmeaverygoodspecimenlastspring,asquiteabundantduringMayintheopenwoodsnearthecitynamed.Speakingofthisspecies,hesays:“From thepointofviewof their edibility,wehaveclassed themunder twoheads—thelightandthedarkvarieties.Thesediffer in thelocality inwhichtheyare found, in their color and in the convolutionsof their surface.Bothgrowlarge.

“TheLightGyromitraisthemoreeasilydigestedofthetwo.Itsheightvariesfrom three to five inches, cap three to five inches in diameter. Its cap isinflated,veryirregular,andtwistedinlargeconvolutions.Theseconvolutionsare almost smooth on the surface, sometimes showing small depressions;margin generally attached to the stem in parts. It is a transparent yellow incolor.Thisvarietydoesnotgrowdarkbrownwithage.Stemwhiteorverylight buff, smooth, andhollow. It growsbest on slopes facing the south, inscantwoodsofbirch,maple,andpine.Wehavefoundnospecimensinopenplacesoronthebordersofwoods.

“TheDark Gyromitra is more common than the light variety. Its color isgenerallyofdarklakebrown,evenintheyoungplant,thoughitissometimesofalightwarmyellow,whichgrowsdarkerwithage.Stemflesh-coloredorpallid,butnotwhite,norsolightasinthefirstvariety.Itscapissimilarinitslarge convolutions to that of the light variety, but it is covered withmanyintricate vermiform ridges, sometimes in high relief or even stronglyundercut. Grows in mossy places, in light sandy soil, on borders of pine

woods. Its flesh isbrittle,butnot so tenderas thatof the firstvariety.Bothvarieties dry readily.We should advise eating theDarkGyromitra only inmoderate amounts, as, if eaten in quantity, or if old specimens are used,indigestionornauseais liable tofollow.Inregardtobothvarieties,Iwouldadvise thatonlyyoungspecimens shouldbeeatenat first, as theyaremoretender and less pronounced in flavor than the older plants.We have eaten,however,aconsiderablequantityof theLightGyromitrawithnounpleasantresults.TheflavoroftheGyromitrasisquitestrong,andsomehavefoundittoomuch so to be agreeable on the first eating. The general opinion here,however,isfavorabletotheGyromitraasanexcellentadditiontothetable.”

SomeGermanauthoritiesspeakwelloftheflavoroftheG.esculenta,anditissold in the Germanmarkets. Cordier records it as agreeable in taste whencooked. Peck says that he has repeatedly eaten itwithout experiencing anyevil results, but does not consider its flavor equal to that of a first-classmushroom.Headvisesalsothatitshouldbeeatenwithmoderation,andthatonlyperfectlyfreshspecimensshouldbeused,sicknesshavingresultedfromeatingfreelyofspecimensthathadbeenkepttwenty-fourhoursbeforebeingcooked.

Ihavenotbeenfortunateinsecuringasufficientquantityoffreshspecimensto test its edible qualities personally, but the testimony received from thosewhohaveeatenitseemstopointtothenecessityformoderationineatingandcareinsecuringfreshspecimenstocook.

FIG.5.Helvellacrispa.“CrispHelvella.”

GenusHelvellaLinn.Theplantsofthisgenusareusuallysmall,thoughafewof the species are of good size. They are not plentiful, but they are verygenerally regardedasedible, theflavorbearinga resemblance to thatof theMorel. The cap has a smooth, not polished, surface, and is very irregular,revolute, and deflexed, not honeycombed like the Morel, nor showing thebrain-like convolutions of the Gyromitras. Color brownish pale tan, orwhitish. The stem in the larger species is stout, and sometimes deeplyfurrowedinlongitudinalgrooves,usuallywhiteorwhitish.

ThespeciesHelvellacrispaiswhiteorpallidthroughout,capveryirregular,sometimes deeply concave in the centre, with margin at first erect, thendrooping; again it is undulating, much divided and deflexed; in fact, soirregularistheshapethatscarcelytwospecimenswillshowthecapthesamein outline; stem stout and deeply channelled. Spores elliptical, transparent.Habitatwoods,growingsinglyoringroups,butnotcæspitose.

Fig.6,theascusorsporesackandparaphyses.

Genus Mitrula Fries. Soft and fleshy, simple capitate, stem distinct,

hymeniumsurroundingtheinflatedcap;headovate,obtuse,inflated.—M.C.Cooke.

Cookesaysofthisgenusthatitisscarcelysowellcharacterizedasmanywithwhich it isassociated,and that someof thespeciesareevidentlysocloselyallied to someof the speciesof thegenusGeoglossum that it is difficult todraw the lineofdemarcationbetween them,particularlysowith thespeciesMitrulapistillarisB.fromLouisiana.

Theplantsareverysmall,and thoughnonearerecordedaspoisonous,onlyoneortwohaveanyvalueasesculents.

FIG.7.MitrulasclerotipesBoudier.

Thecapinthisspeciesissmall,andthestemlongandslender.Thesporesaretransparent,theasciclub-shaped.Theplantsofthisspeciesarealwaysfoundspringingfromanoblongsclerotium;hencethenamesclerotipes.

Fig. 8 represents the sporidia enclosed in their asci with paraphyses andindividualspores,thelattermagnified800diameters.Fig.9,sectionalviewofmatureplant.

FIG.10.MitrulavitellinaSacc.,var.irregularisPeck.

Saccardo, in his Sylloge Fungorum, includes in this genus those having aclub-shaped cap, which brings into it, with others, the species Mitrulavitellina Sacc., formerly classed in the genus Geoglossum, and its varietyirregularis Peck. The latter was first described in 1879, in Peck’s Thirty-SecondReport,underthenameGeoglossumirregulare.Prof.Pecknowgivespreference to the name assigned to it by Saccardo, and it is so recorded inPeck’slaterreports.

Prof.Peckrecordsthisspeciesasedible,andrecommendsitashavingtenderfleshandanagreeableflavor.Itsometimesgrowsinprofusioninwetmossyplaces, inwoods,or swampyground. It isbrightyellow incolor, cleanandattractive. The cap is much longer than the stem, often deeply lobed,extremelyirregularinoutline,andtaperstoashortyellowishorwhitishstem.Thesporesarenarrowlyellipticalandtransparent.ThespecimenillustratedisfromasmallonefiguredbyPeck.Theplantssometimesreachtwoinchesinheight.Theyaremostabundantintemperateclimates.

FOURTYPESOFTHEGENUSMORCHELLA.T.TAYLOR,DEL.

THENORRISPETERSCO.,PHOTO-LITHO.,WASHINGTON,D.C.

PLATED.

In Plate D are represented four species of the genus Morchella, viz., M.semilibera,M.bispora,M.conica,andM.deliciosa.Morchellaesculenta isfiguredinPlateC.

FIG.1.MorchellasemiliberaDeCandolle.“HalfFreeMorel.”

EDIBLE.

Capconicalbuthalffreefromthestemasthenameofthespeciesindicates.Theribsarelongitudinal,formingoblongpits;stemhollow,muchlongerthanthecap,white;sporeselliptical.PecksaysthatthisspecieshasbeendescribedbyPersoonunder thenameMorchellahybrida, and thisname isadopted inSaccardo’sSyllogeFungorum,butmostEnglishwriterspreferthefirst.

Fig.2.SectionalviewofMorchellasemilibera.

Fig.8.Sporidiaofsameinclosedinascuswithaccompanyingparaphyses.

FIG.3.SectionalviewofMorchellabisporaSorokin.“Two-SporedMorel.”

EDIBLE.

Cap free from the stem to the top, somewhat resembling that of M.semilibera, but blunt at its summit instead of conical, the outward surface

deeplypitted,innersurfacesmoothandbarren.Acharacteristicofthisspecieswhichdistinguishesitfromothersofthesamegenusisfoundinthenumberofitssporidia,sporesasseenintheascusorsporesack.IntheplantsofthegenusMorchella the spore sacks,withoneor twoexceptions, contain eightspores.

InthespeciesM.bisporathesporesackscontainbuttwosporesandthesearemuch larger than the sporidia of those which contain eight. Thischaracteristic,however,canonlybedeterminedbytheaidofthemicroscope.

Cooke figures a specimen taken from those published by Sorokin inThumen’sExsiccata,andcallsitavarietyofMorchellaBohemicaKromb.Hesays that it isnotunusual tofindM.Bohemicawith twoor foursporidia insomeoftheasci,mixedwithotherscontainingmore,somespecimensbeingentirelytetrasporous,andsome,asthevarietybispora,usuallycontainingbuttwosporidia.CookecontendsthatM.bisporaissimplyabisporousformofMorchella Bohemica, and calls it M. Bohemica var. bispora. It is not ascommonasotherspecies.

Fig.9representsasciofM.bisporashowingthetwosporesineachascus.

FIG.4.Morchellaconica.“ConicalMorel.”

EDIBLE.

Cap conical or oblong-conical,margin adhering to the stem, the prominentridgeslongitudinalandirregularlybisectedwithshorterones;thewholeplanthollow throughout; colorpale tanorochraceousyellow,growingdingyanddarkerwithage;stemwhite;sporeselliptical.

Thisspeciesisquiteplentifulinsomelocalities;theflavorislikethatofM.esculenta.

Fig.5.SectionalviewofM.conica.

Fig.10.Ascus,sporidiaandparaphyses.

FIG.6.MorchelladeliciosaFries.“DeliciousMorel.”

Cap nearly cylindrical, blunt at the top, and usually much longer than thestem,adnate.Planthollowthroughout.Stemwhite.Sporeselliptical.

Fig.7.SectionalviewofM.deliciosa.

Fig.11.Ascus,sporidia,andparaphyses.

TheMorchelladeliciosa is highly esteemed as an esculentwherever eaten.Split open and stuffed with bread crumbs seasoned with pepper, salt, andbutterandapinchofthymeoronion,steamedinahotoven,andservedwithbuttersauce,thismushroommakesaverysavorydish.

Note.—Small specimens have been selected for illustration in this plate inordertoutilizeasmuchaspossibletheplatespace.

THENORRISPETERSCO.,PHOTO-LITHO.,WASHINGTON,D.C.

PLATEIV.STRUCTUREOFTHEAGARICINI,GILL-BEARINGMUSHROOMS.

Fig.1.Caporpileusumbonate,a;stemorstipefistulose,tubular,b;gillsorlamellæadnate,andslightlyemarginate.

Fig.2.Gillsremote,i.e.,distantfromthestem.(Seea.)Fig.3.Gillsadnexed,partlyattachedtothestemattheirinnerextremity,

a.Fig.4.Gillsemarginate,withatooth,asata;stemstuffed.Fig.5.Capobtuse,e;gillsfree,i.e.,reachingthestembutnotattached

thereto(seea);bstemstuffed.Fig.6.Capumbilicate,slightlydepressedinthecentre,b;gillsdecurrent,

i.e.,runningdownthestem.(Seea.)Fig.7.Basidium,cella,borneonthehymenium,orspore-bearing

surfaceofthegills;b,stigmata;c,spores.Fig.8.Gillsadnate,i.e.,firmlyattachedtothestemattheirinner

extremity,asata.Fig.9.Cap,withborderinvolute,i.e.,rolledinward.(Seea.)Fig.10.Lamellæorgillsdentatedortoothed.(Seea.)Fig.11.Capwithborderrevolute,i.e.,rolledbackward.(Seea.)

AGARICINI.Fries.

LEUCOSPORI(SPORESWHITEORYELLOWISH).

GenusLactariusFries.Theplantsof thisgenushaveneitherveilnorvolva.TheysomewhatresembletheRussulæ,butcanbereadilydistinguishedfromthem by the greater fleshiness of the stem and by the milky juice whichexudes from the flesh. The latter is a characteristic feature of the Lactars,givingtothegroupitsname.

The specieswere originally arranged by Fries into groups according to thecolorandqualityof themilk, andof thenakedorpruinosecharacterof thegills. Prof. Peck, however, considering the latter character not sufficientlyconstantorobvioustobesatisfactory,inhisearlyreportsmakesthecolorofthemilkalonethebasisoftheprimarygroupingoftheAmericanspecies.

Saccardo, inhisSylloge, followsFries inhisclassificationof thespeciesofthegenusLactarius.

Insomespeciesthemilkisatfirstbrightcoloredandcontinuesunchanged;inothers it is alwayswhite orwhitish, and in others again it is at firstwhite,changing to different hues on exposure to the air, becoming pinkish, paleviolet,oryellow.Inonespecies(C.indigo)bothplantandmilkareofindigoblue. The taste of the milk varies, as does that of the flesh, according tospecies. Sometimes it ismild or very slightly acrid, and again it resemblesCayennepepper in itshot,bitingacridity. It issomewhatviscidorsticky incharacter,andpermeatestosomeextentthewholefleshofthemushroom,butismostprofuseinthegills,whereinfreshyoungspecimensitisseenexudingontheslightestpressure.Inoldorwiltedspecimensitdoesnotflowsofreely,butmaybefoundbybreakingoffportionsofthecap.

Theplantsusuallypresentafleshycap,thefleshquitebrittle,andbreakinginclean,evenfractures.Inanumberofthespeciestheuppersurfaceofthecapshowsbandsorzonesofwarmcoloring,notfoundinanyofthespeciesofthealliedgenusRussula.Thegillsaresometimeseven,moreoftenforked,acuteontheedge,colorwhiteorwhitish,butchangingtoyellowishorreddishtintsas the plantsmature, orwhen cut or bruised.While they are at first adnatetheybecome,withtheexpansionofthecap,somewhatdecurrent,showinginthisparticulararesemblancetotheplantsofthegenusClitocybe.Thestemiscentral, except in a few species,where it is eccentricor lateral, notably thelatterinL.obliquus;sporeswhiteoryellowish,accordingtospecies;Cookesays, “rarely turning yellow.” They are globose, or nearly so, and slightlyrough.

Thisgenusisalargeone,andcontainsmanyacridspecies.Outoffifty-threedescribedandfiguredbyCooke,morethanhalfaregivenashavingthemilkmoreorlessacrid.Morethanfortyspecieshavebeenrecordedasgrowingin

thiscountry,andmanyoftheseareextremelyacridintaste.

A number of the species are edible, while others have been recorded asdeleterious, poisonous, etc. L. torminosus, L. piperatus, andL. insulsus arespeciesaboutwhichthereseemstobedifferenceofopinionamongauthorsasto their wholesomeness or edibility, some contending that, in spite of theirextreme acridity, they are edible when cooked, and others that they aredeleterious in their effects. L. deliciosus and L. volemus have a goodreputationin thiscountryaswellasabroad,andarequiteabundant insomelocalities. They are more frequent in temperate climates than in northernlatitudesorinthetropics.

LACTARIOUSDELICIOSUS.1Generalform.2Section.3Spores.

PLATEV.

LactariusdeliciosusFries.“DeliciousLactarius”or“OrangeMilkMushroom.”

EDIBLE.

Cap fleshy, viscid, at first convex, then nearly plane, becoming muchdepressedinthecentre,funnel-shaped,markedintheadultplantwithringsorrust-coloredzones.Colorofthecapdullorange,turningpaler,andgrayishorgreenish yellow when old or dried; margin at first turned inwards; fleshwhitish or tinged with yellow; gills decurrent, crowded rather thick,sometimes slightly forked at the base, pale yellow, sometimes a saffron

yellow, exudingwhen bruised a saffron-red or orange-colored liquid, hencethe popular name of “Orange Milk Mushroom;” stem smooth, somewhatspotted, stout, stuffed with a yellowish pith, eventually becoming hollow;coloraboutthesameasthatofthecap.Sporessubglobose,yellowish.Tastemildorveryslightlyacridwhenraw.

Mycophagistsgenerallyconcurintheopinionthatitisofverypleasantflavorwhencooked,andsomespeakveryenthusiasticallyofitsesculentqualities.

Over-cookingisapttomakeittough.Ifindsteamingintheovenwithbutter,pepper,andsalt,andaverysmallquantityofwater,asoystersaresteamed,averygoodmethodofpreservingthejuicesandflavor.

ItisfoundinMaryland,underthepinesandsometimesinmossyandswampyplaces. Prof. Underwood, President of the New York Mycological Club,reportsitasfairlyabundantinConnecticut.

Lactarius volemus Fries, the “Orange-Brown Lactar,” somewhat resemblestheL.deliciosus in shapeand size, but the cap isdry andglabrous and theskinisapttocrackinpatchesinsomewhatthesamemannerasdoesthatoftheRussulavirescens. It is awarm orange-brown in color, varying slightlywith age, and is not zoned. The gills are white or yellowish and crowded,adnateintheyoungspecimens,anddecurrentinthemature,exudingawhitemilkwhen bruised. The spores are globose, andwhite. It is found in openwoods.TheflavorismuchlikethatofL.deliciosus,althoughperhapsnotsorich.

One author states it as his experience that the Lactars which have bright-coloredmilk,unchanging,areusuallyedibleandhaveamildtaste.L.indigoSchwein has been recorded as less abundant than some other species, butedible.Theplant isadeepblue throughout, themilkof the samecolorandunchanging. The taste of both flesh and milk is mild. Specimens of thisspecies were sent to me from western New York several years ago by acorrespondent who found it growing in quantities in a corn field. He hadcookedseveraldishesofit,andreporteditsflavorasveryagreeable.

L.vellereusandL.piperatus areverycommon in firwoods.Theplantsarelargeandstout,whitethroughout,themilkwhiteandexcessivelyacrid;gillsdecurrent,unequalandnarrow.Themilk invellereus isapt tobescantybutcopiousinpiperatus.

OfL.piperatus,WorthingtonSmithsays:“Sostronglyacridisthemilkthatifit be allowed to trickle over tender hands it will sting like the contact ofnettles;andifadropbeplacedonthelipsortonguethesensationwillbelikethescaldingofboilingwater.”Herecordsitas“poisonous.”FriesandCurtissay that, “notwithstanding its intense acridity, it is edible when cooked.”

Cordier,whilerecordingitasedible,saysthatthemilk,andbuttermadefromthemilkofcowsfedwithit,arebitterandnauseous,althoughcowseatitwithavidity. Gibson, while quoting one or two authors as to its edibility whencooked, says: “Its decidedly ardent tang warns me not to dwell tooenthusiasticallyuponitsmeritsinalimitedselectionofdesirableesculents.”TheSecretaryof theBostonMycologicalClub,writingin theClubbulletin,says“ithasbeeneatenasasortofdutyaftertheacriditywascookedout,”butdoesnotcommendit.Itisspokenofas“anunattractivefunguswhichusurpsinthewoodstheplacethatmightwellbeoccupiedbysomethingbetter.”InthisopinionIfullyconcur.

L. torminosus, “Wooly Lactarius,” sometimes called the “Colic Lactarius,”has been termed acrid andpoisonous byBadham.Cordier andLetellier, onthe other hand, say that it can be eatenwith impunitywhen cooked.Gilletdeclaresitdeleteriousandevendangerousintherawstate,constitutingaverystrong and drastic purgative. One author states that, although it does notconstituteanagreeablearticleoffood,itiseateninsomepartsofFranceandinRussia.Considering thedifferencesofopinionwhichexistwithregard tothisandotherextremelyacridspecies,itwouldseemthepartofprudenceforpersons with delicate stomachs to avoid the use of very acrid species, for,thoughtheacriditymaybeexpelledbycooking, therewouldseemtobenonecessity for risking unpleasant or dangerous results while the range ofunquestionably wholesome and agreeable species is sufficiently wide tosatisfythemostenthusiasticmycophagist.

AGARICINI.

LEUCOSPORI(SPORESWHITEORYELLOWISH).

Armillaria Fries. Cooke places Armillaria in the order Agaricini, genusAgaricus,making of it a sub-genus. Saccardo, in taking it out ofAgaricus,elevatesittothepositionofaseparategenus.ThenameArmillariaisderivedfromaGreekword,meaningaringorbracelet,referringtoitsringedstem.

IntheplantsoftheArmillariatheveilispartialininfancy,attachingtheedgeofthecaptotheupperpartofthestem;thestemfurnishedwitharing.Belowtheringtheveilisconcretewiththestem,formingscurfyscalesuponit.Thegills are broadly adnexed. In abnormal specimens the ring is sometimesabsent,orappearingonlyinscales,runningdownthestem.Sporeswhite.Thespecies are few; eight are recorded as growing in theUnitedStates.CookedescribestwelvespeciesfoundinGreatBritain.

AGARICUS(ARMILLARIA)MELLEUS.GroupfromHynesboroPark,Md.,U.S.

K.MAYO,del.

PLATEVI.

Ag.(Armillaria)melleusVahl.“Honey-ColoredArmillaria.”

EDIBLE.

Capfleshy,ratherthinatthemargin,atfirstsubconical,thenslightlyrounded,or nearly plane, clothed with minute hairy tufts; margin sometimes striate,colorvarying,usuallyapale-yellowishorhoneycolororlightreddishbrown;flesh whitish. Gills whitish or paler than the cap, growing mealy with thesheddingof theprofusewhite spores, andoften spottedwith reddish-brownstains,adnate,endingwithdecurrenttooth.Stemfibrillose,elastic,stuffedorhollow,ringed,andadornedwithfloccosescaleswhichoftendisappearwithage; in some varieties distinctly bulbous at the base, in others showingtaperingroot.Specimensoccurinwhichtheringiswantingoronlytracesofit appear in the form of scales encircling the stem. Veil usually firm,membraneous, and encircling the stem in awell-pronounced ring or collar,but sometimes filmyasa spider’sweb, inveryyoungspecimenshiding thegills,butbreakingapartasthecapexpands.

Mannerofgrowthcæspitose,generallyondecayedtreestumps,althoughthegroupfiguredintheplatewasfoundgrowingonmoistsand,mixedwithclay,onaroadsideinHynesburyPark.

Authors differwidely as to the value of this species as an esculent. I haveonlyeatentheveryyoungandsmallspecimenswhencooked,andfoundthemverypalatable.ABostonmycophagist records it as “verygood,” fried afterfiveminutes’boilinginsaltedwater.Prof.Peck,havingtriedit,considersit“aperfectly safe species, but not of first-rate quality.” It is very common inMaryland andVirginia, and in themountain districts prolific. I have talkedwithBohemiansandwithGermanswhohavegathereditinbasketfulsinthevicinity of theDistrict of Columbia,who speakwell of it, considering it avaluableaddition to the table. Itsprolificgrowthmakes itvaluable to thosewholikeit.Therearenospeciesrecordedasdangerousinthisgroup.

Ag. (Armillaria) robustus, a very stout species, with a fleshy, compact,smooth cap, bay color or tawny, occurs in theMarylandwoods, and in theopenwoodsoftheMassachusettscoast.

AGARICINI.Fries.

GenusCantharellusAdans. In the plants of this genus the hymenophore orfleshy substance of the cap is continuous with the stem. They are fleshy,membranaceous, and putrescent, having neither veil, ring, nor volva. Thestemiscentral,exceptinafewspecies,whereitislateral.Acharacteristicofthegenuswhich separates it fromothergeneraof theAgaricini is thevein-likeappearanceofthegills.Theyareveryshallowandsoobtuseontheedgesas topresent theappearanceofanetworkofswollenbranchingveins.Theyare usually decurrent and anastomosing. It is a small genus. Cooke figuresnineteen species. Among the described species C. cibarius is the only onewhoseediblequalitieshavebeenhighlyrecommended.C.umbonatus,averysmallplant,foundineasternMassachusettsiscommendedbythosewhohaveeatenit.Theyareusuallyfoundinwoods,andamongstmoss.Onespecies,C.carbonatus,isfounduponcharredground.

CANTHARELLUSCIBARIUSFR.1,2,3,4Variousstagesofgrowth.5Asection.

6Spores.7Sporesandbasidia.FromHynesbury,Md.,U.S.

Sackett&WilhelmsLithographingCo.,NewYork.

PLATEVII.

CantharelluscibariusFries.“TheEdibleChantarelle.”

EDIBLE.

Cap a rich golden yellow, like the yolk of an egg; at first convex, laterconcaveandturbinated;marginsinuous,undulate,smooth,shining,andmoreorlesslobed;diameterfromtwotofourinches;fleshpaleyelloworwhitish;veinsorgillsratherthickandwiry,remarkablydecurrent,usuallyverymuchbifurcated andof the samegoldenyellowas the cap; stem solid or stuffed,slightly attenuated downwards, yellow; spores white or pale yellowish,elliptical.

Europeanauthorsesteem itveryhighly,andsomespeakof theodoras likethat of ripe apricots. The plant as found in Maryland and Virginia has aslightly pungent but agreeable taste when raw, and a pleasant odor whencooked.Itisrankedasoneofthebestofthewoodmushroomsbythosewhohave eaten it in this locality (District of Columbia). It is found here inabundance,afterlightrains,infirwoods.Berkeleystatesthatitissomewhatrare in England, where it is held as a delicacy, but quite common on the

continent. We have had specimens from various localities throughout theStates. Cooke says the spores are white. Peck and Gibson record them asyellow.Ifindthemwhite,sometimesslightlytintedwithyellow.

TheChantarelletakesitsnamefromaGreekwordsignifyingacuporvase,referringtoitsshapeandpossiblyalsotoitsrichgoldencolor;cibariusreferstoitsesculentqualities.

Thevariety rufipesGillet closely resemblesC.cibarius, but is darker,withthestemrufous,reddish,atthebase.

C. aurantiacus Fries bears a sufficient resemblance to C. cibarius to besometimestakenfor it,althoughthecapis tomentoseandofamuchdeeperorangeintint,thegillsmorecrowded,darkerthanthecap,andthestemlessstout.Inthevarietypallidusthewholeplantisverylightorbuffyellow,andthe gills nearly white. C. aurantiacus has been recorded as poisonous orunwholesomebysomeoftheearlierauthors,otherssaythattheyhaveeatenit,butdonotcommendit.

RECEIPTSFORCOOKING.StuffedMorels.—Choose the freshest and lightest coloredMorels, open thestalkatthebase,fillwithmincedvealandbread-crumbs,securetheendsofthestalkandplacebetweenthinslicesofbacon.

The Morel should not be gathered immediately after heavy rains, as itbecomes insipidwithmuchmoisture.The flavor is said togrowstronger indrying.

EscallopedMushrooms.—(FromMr. FrankCaywood, Fredericktown,Ohio,November14,1893.)Seasonasdirectedintheusualmethodsformushroomsandaddasmallquantityofvinegartohastenthecooking.Cookslowlyuntiltender;rapidboilingevaporatestheflavor.Whendone,putinfromapinttoaquartofsweetmilkandheat.Takeapuddingdishandputinalayerofbrokencrackers;lightmilkcrackersarethebest.Putlumpsofbutterandpepperandsaltoverthecrackers.Nextalayerofthetendermushroomswithsomeofthehotgravyandmilk.Continuetheselayersuntilthedishisfull,havingalayerof crackers on top. Place the dish in the oven and bake slowly until thecrackersarebrowned.

MushroomFritters.—Takenicelargetops,season,anddipintobatterandfry

inhotbutterasotherfritters.

Mushroomsenragout.—Putintoastewpana little“stock,”asmallquantityofvinegar,parsley,andgreenonionschoppedup,saltandspices.Whenthisisabouttoboil,thecleanedmushroomsareputin.Whendoneremovethemfromthefireandthickenwithyolksofeggs.

TheLactariusdeliciosusmaybeservedwithawhitesauceorfried.Badhamsaysthebestwaytocookthemistoseasonfirstwithpepper,salt,andsmallpieces of butter, and bake in a closely covered pie dish for about threequartersofanhour.

TheCantharellus,beingsomewhatdry,requiresmorefluidsauceincookingthanthejuiciermushrooms,andisbestmincedandslowlysteweduntilquitetender. Some advise soaking it in milk a few hours before cooking. TheItaliansdryorpickleitorkeepitinoilforwinteruse.

Persoon gives the following recipes for cooking theMorel: 1st.Wash andcleansethoroughly,astheearthisapt tocollectbetweentheridges;dryandputtheminasaucepanwithpepper,salt,andparsley,addingornotapieceofbacon; stew for an hour, pouring in occasionally a little broth to preventburning;whensufficientlydone,bindwiththeyolksoftwoorthreeeggs,andserveonbutteredtoast.

2.Morellesàl’Italienne.—Havingwashedanddried,dividethemacross,putthemonthefirewithsomeparsley,scallion,chives,tarragon,alittlesalt,andtwospoonfulsoffineoil.Stewtillthejuicerunsout,thenthickenwithalittleflour;servewithbreadcrumbsandasqueezeoflemon.

MUSHROOMGROWING.[A][A]Apartofthematterpresentedunderthiscaptionwascontributedbytheauthorto the Health Magazine and appeared in the March number (1897) of thatperiodical.

ToFranceisduethecreditofbeingthefirstcountrytocultivatemushroomson a large scale, and France still supplies the markets of the world withcanned mushrooms. The mushroom which is cultivated in the caves andquarriesofFrance,totheexclusionofallothers,istheAgaricusarvensis(the“Snowball”),aspeciesoffieldmushroom.

Of late years France has found a formidable competitor in the culture ofmushroomsinGreatBritain.TheEnglishmarketgardenersfind theirmoist,equableclimate favorable tooutdoorculture,andabundantcropsaregrownbythemintheopenair,chiefly,however,forthehomemarket.

Thatmushroomgrowing can bemade a lucrative business is shownby theexperienceofawell-knownEnglishgrower,Mr.J.F.Barter,whoononeacreofgroundhasproducedintheopenair,withouttheaidofglass,anaverageoffrom ten to twelve thousand pounds of mushrooms annually; the priceobtainedfor themvaryingaccordingto theseason,butaveragingtenpence,ortwentycents,perpoundforthewholeyear.Thevalueoftwelvethousandpounds of mushrooms at ten pence per pound would be £500 sterling or$2,500.

ForthepurposesofcomparisonthefollowingarequotedfromthePallMallGazette, as exceptional prices realized in England for other fruits andvegetablesinrecentyears:

Poundssterlingperstatuteacre:

Very early gooseberries, 100; onions, 192; early lettuces, 100; plums, 100;potatoes,100;strawberries,150;blackcurrants,168;filberts,200.

Itwillbeseenthatonionsandfilbertsheadthelist,buttheproductofanacreofmushroomshasbeen shown tobeworthmore thandouble that of eitherfilbertsoronions.

Inthelocalitiesspeciallyfavorabletohopgrowing30cwt.ofhopstotheacreis considered exceptional, while the average price has been quoted at 3poundssterling,oraboutone-fifthofthesumobtainedfromMr.Barter’sacreofmushrooms.Threemonthsintheyeartheweatherdoesnotfavoroutdoorculture, and thesemonthsMr.Barter spends inmanufacturingbrick spawn,

which he exports to this and other countries.Among thosewho have beenvery successful in indoor culture are Mr. William Robinson, editor of the“LondonGarden,”andMr.HoraceCox,managerofthe“Field.”

In America, where mushroom culture is still comparatively in its infancy,there have already been obtained very encouraging results by painstakinggrowers. Most of the cultivation has been in the northern and midwesternStates,wheretheclimaticconditionsseemedmostfavorabletoindoorculture.A few figures as to the revenue obtained in thiswaymay be interesting toreaders.

An experienced Pennsylvania grower states that from a total area of 5,500squarefeetofbeds,madeupintwomushroomhouses,heobtainedacropof5,000poundsofmushroomsinoneseason,oraboutonepoundtothesquarefoot. These sold at an average of a little over 50 cents per pound. A thirdhouse,with19,000square feetofbeds,produced2,800pounds,oroneandone-half pounds to the square foot. This house yielded a net profit of onethousand dollars. This, however, can be quoted only as showing thepossibilitiesof careful culturebyexperiencedgrowersundervery favorablecircumstances. Amateurs could scarcely expect such good results. Three-fourths of a pound to the square foot would probably come nearer theaverage. A Philadelphia grower gives the average price secured from fiftyshipments of mushrooms in one season at 54 cents per pound. New Yorkdealers report higher rates than this. AWashington florist who utilizes thelower shelves of his propagating houses for the purpose of mushroomgrowinginformedmethatduringtwoseasonshereceived60centsperpoundwholesale,shippingtoNewYork,andthathesoldonethousanddollarsworthinoneseason.Mr.Denton,amarketgardenerofLongIsland,whocultivatesinhousesbuiltforthepurpose,marketsfrom1,700to2,500poundsperyear.

Thus far the market is in the hands of a comparatively few dealers in theneighborhood of large cities, but there is certainly no good reasonwhy thegrowing of mushrooms should not be more generally undertaken by thefarming community. Certainly no one has better facilities than are at thecommandoftheenterprisingAmericanfarmer.Onmostfarmstheconditionsarefavorableorcouldeasilybemadesoformushroomculture,onamoderatescale,atleast.Generallytherearedisusedsheds,oldbarns,etc.,whichwithasmalloutlaycouldbetransformedintomushroomhouses,andwheretimberisplentifulthecostofbuildingasmallmushroomhousewouldberepaidbytheprofitsaccruingfromthebusiness.

In the culture ofmushrooms there are open, to the enterprisingwith smallcapital,foursourcesofprofit:first,thesaleofthefreshmushrooms;second,themanufactureofmushroomcatsup; third, thecanningof thesmallbutton

mushroomforexportation;and,fourth,themanufactureofspawn.

It is well in this, as in all new industries, to begin in a small way, and ifsuccessisattaineditiseasytoextendoperationsonalargerscale.Myadvicetoamateursistobeginwithoneortwobedsinawell-drainedcellarorshedwheregoodventilationandeventemperaturecanbesecuredatmoderatecost.Intheundergroundcellareconomyissecuredbythesavinginfuel.Thebedscanbemadeonthefloor,flat,ridgedorbankedagainstthewall,tenortwelveinches deep in a warm cellar, and from fifteen to twenty inches in a coolcellar. The boxing for the sides and endsmay be built six or eight incheshigherthanthebedstogivethemushroomsplentyofheadroom.

DIRECTIONSFORPREPARINGTHECOMPOSTFORTHEBEDS.

Procurenotlessthanacartloadofclean,freshstablemanure.Placeitundercover,toprotectitfromrainanddrainwater,mixwellandheapupthewholemass into a mound three feet high then beat the mound firmly down toprevent undue heating. Repeat this operation every other day until its ranksmell is gone, taking care that on each turning the outside dry manure isplacedinthecentreofthemound.Bythismeansthestableodorisdissipatedwhile its heating properties are equally distributed. Add to this from one-fourth toone-fifthofclean, richgardenmould.Mixwell.After thiscarefulhandling,themassmaybeconsideredfitforbeddingpurposes.Whenplacedinthebedsthemassshouldbecompactedagainbybeatingwiththebackofaspadeortrowel.Thebedsurfaceshouldappearmoistbutnotwet,smoothandof firmconsistence.Fromday today itwillbenecessary to test itsgeneraltemperaturebymeansofathermometer.Tothisendmakeatvariousplacesatdifferentdepthsopeningssufficientlylargetoadmittheuseofathermometer.It will be found that the temperature is highest nearest the bottom. Test atvariouspoints.Atfirstthetemperaturewillrunhigh;105°to120°Fahrenheitisprobablyashighasitwillreach,butinafewdaysitwillfallto85°or80°Fahrenheit.At thispointspawnthebed.For thispurposemakeholes in thetopofthebedaboutsixinchesapartandtwoinchesdeepwithabluntdibbleor broom handle. Place in these holes or openings a piece of brick spawnabout the size of a hen’s egg, and cover the holes with manure; finish bypacking the same, keeping the surface of the bed smooth and moist. Thespawn shouldbe slightlymoistenedbeforeusing.Should the surfaceof thebedbecomedry,usewaterfromafinesprinklingpan.Thetemperatureofthecellarorhouseinwhichthebedmaybeplacedshouldrangebetween55°and75°,andshouldnotbelowerthan50°.Ifthespawnisgoodandallconditionsattended to, the white filaments should appear spreading through the bedwithineightortendaysafterspawning.Whenthewhitespawnisobservedonornear thesurface,cover thewholesurfacewithfromoneto twoinchesofgardenloamwellpulverized.Agoodgeneralruleforspawningthebedistowaituntil theheatof thebedison thedeclineandhasfallen toat least90°Fahrenheit. If the heat in themiddle of the bed runs too high the spawn iskilled.Theexperienceofanumberofgrowershasshownthatabedspawnedat60°to80°andkeptat55°afterthemushroomsappeargivesbetterresultsthanonespawnedat90°.

The quality of the manure makes some difference in its temperature. Thatobtained from stables where horses are grass fed will be of lower normaltemperature and will chill quicker than that obtained from corn or oat fedstock.

Asolutionofsaltpeterinproportionofaboutfifteengrainstoaquartofwater,occasionally spread over the bed with a fine hose, helps to accelerate thegrowthofthemushrooms.

Theproper conditionof themanureas regardsdrynessormoistness canbereadilyascertainedbysqueezingitinthehand;itshouldbeunctuousenoughtoholdtogetherinalump,andsodrythatyoucannotsqueezeadropofwateroutofit.Excessivemoistureinthemanurehasbeenoftenacauseoffailure.It should be remembered also that when the heat of the manure is on thedeclineitfallsrapidly,five,oftentendegreesaday,tillitreachesabout75°,andbetweenthatand65°itmayrestforweeks.

Oneoftheprincipalcausesofthefailureofmushroomcultureinthiscountryistheuseofoldorpoorspawn.Goodspawnshouldhaveafresh,mushroomyodor, and a bluish-white appearance on the surface. In buying spawn oneshouldalwaysgotoreliableseedsmen.

COMPOSTFORMUSHROOMBEDS.

SawdusthasbeenusedinEnglandformushroombeds,afterhavingbeenusedforstablebedding,withverygoodresults.Ithasalsobeenusedsuccessfullyin the District of Columbia. In fact, the very large models of cultivatedmushrooms exhibited by theDivision ofMicroscopy of theDepartment ofAgriculture at theWorld’s Fair inChicagoweremoulded frommushroomswhich were grown on the writer’s premises, in a composition of sawduststable bedding, combined with about one-fourth garden mould, but I amconfident, at the same time, that much depends on the kind of timber thesawdustismadefrom.Inthiscasethesawdustcamefromspruce.

MUSHROOMCULTUREINCANADA.

A Canadian correspondent informs me that he, with others, has been verysuccessfulingrowingmushroomsintheopenairduringthesummermonthsinCanada, and gives the following directions for preparing the beds in thecolderlatitudes:

Placeunderashedsuchamountofcleanstablemanureasmayberequiredforthebeds,turningitoverandoveruntilallfreeammoniahasescapedandthetendencyofunduefermentationandevolutionofhightemperaturehasgreatlymodified.Toeffectthis,itisnecessarytoheapupthemanureeachtimeinamound, say three feet high after turning, and beat it firmly down (theexclusion of free air prevents overheating). To put the manure in propercondition for use in the beds, from two to four weeks’ treatment may berequired,butmuchdependsonthequalityofthemanureandtemperatureofthe atmosphere. Before making the beds, and several days after the lastturning, test theinternal temperatureof themoundinthefollowingmanner:Makeaholewithabroomstick through themoundfromtop tobottom,andsuspend a thermometer half way down in the hole for, say, an hour. Thetemperaturemaybeashighas150°F.Afterthelapseofthetimestated,beatthemoundmorefirmlydowntopreventriseof temperature.Testagain twodaysafterinthesamemanner.Ifthetemperaturehasrisenseveraldegreesthemoundmustbeagain takendown, turnedover,andremade. If,on theotherhand,thetemperaturehasfallento100°F.,thepermanentbedmaybemade.If indoor growth is desired, such as a cellar, outbuilding, or cave, theatmospheremustnotfallbelow50°F.,norbeover80°F.Airdraftscannotbepermitted.Thefloormustbedryandtheatmospheremoist.Thecellarmaybedark,ormoderatelylight.Growersdifferinopinioninthisrespect.Growersgenerally add to the manure about one-fourth or one-fifth garden soil, butsuccess has been attainedwithout the use of garden soil, except as surfacedressingafterspawningthebed;anexcessiveuseofloam,inanycase,tendsto lower the temperature too rapidly.Havingpreparedaboxor frame-workforthebedtwelveinchesdeep,fillituptowithintwoinchesofthetop;beatgently downwith a board, or a brick, until it is even and compact.On thefollowingdaymakeholesinthebed,withadibble,teninchesdeep,inwhichsuspend a thermometer halfwaydown for an hour. Should the temperaturehavefallento90°F.,coverlightlywithstrawandtestonthefollowingday.Shouldthetemperatureprovetobegoingdown,sayto80°F.,or85°F.,itissafetoplantthespawn;butshouldthetemperaturebeontherise,waituntilitisfalling.Onegrowerhasstatedthathisgreatestsuccesshasbeenwhenthe

spawnwasplanted at the temperatureof75°F.Should the temperature falltoo quickly and the surface be too dry, sprinkle with water at blood heat,usingaveryfinehose,andcoverthebedwithstraw.

The spawn brick should be cut into pieces, about the size of an egg, andplantedinholesmadeinthebed,abouttwoinchesdeepandaboutsixinchesapart.Theholesarethenfilledupandabouttwoinchesofgardensoilsiftedover thesurfaceof thebed.Tampthebedsurfacegentlywith thebackofaspade.Mushroomsmaybeexpectedfortableuseinaboutsixorsevenweeks,providedthespawnisgoodandthetemperaturehasnotfallenbelow50°F.Inoutdoorculturethebedsmustbewellcoveredwithstraworcanvas,andhadbetterbeunderashedroofwithsouthernexposure.

Thespawnusedbythisgroweristhe“brick”spawn,importedfromCarter&Holborn,London,England.

CULTIVATIONOFMUSHROOMSINJAPAN.

TheJapaneseareverysuccessful incultivatingamushroomwhichtheycall“Shiitake” or “Lepiota shiitake.” China also produces the samemushroom,but of an inferior quality. The Chinese therefore prefer the mushroomcultivatedbytheJapanese,whichtheyimportfromJapaninlargequantities.Itiscultivatedonavarietyoftrees,butissaidtogrowbestonthe“Shiinoki,”aspeciesofoak(Quercuscuspidata).

Therearethreevarietiesof“Shiitake,”thespring,summer,andautumncropsdifferingsomewhatinquality.Themethodofgrowingthe“Shiitake”isgivenbytheJapaneseCommissionerofAgricultureasfollows:

“Treesoffromtwentytofiftyyears’growtharecutdownattheapproachofwinterwhenthesaphasceasedtorun,andafterthelapseoftwentyorthirtydays, according to the condition of the drying of thewood, are sawed intologsof4or5feetinlength.Intoeachoftheselogsincisionsaremadewithahatchet, at intervals of about 6 inches, and they are piled regularly upon aframe-workerectedataheightofabout1 foot above theground,under thetrees. The location of the ground selected for piling the logs should be theslopes of a forest, facing southeast or southwest.After keeping the logs asabovedescribedforfromtwotothreeyears,theyareimmersedinwaterfortwenty-four hours in the middle of November, and again laid one uponanotherforaboutfourdays;ifitisinacolddistrict,thepileiscoveredwithstrawormats.Attheexpirationofthefourthdaythelogsareobliquelytiltedagainst poles fixed horizontally to the trees at a height of about 4 feet in awell-ventilatedandsunnysituation.Themushroomssoonappearinquantity,and,aftertwentyorthirtydays’growth,arereadyforharvesting.”

RecentreportsoftheJapaneseAgriculturalDepartmentshowthetotalvalueoftheannualexportof“Shiitake”tobenearlyfivehundredthousand“yen”(silver).

MANUFACTUREOFSPAWN.

As many tons of artificial spawn are yearly imported into this country, itwouldseemthatthemanufactureofspawnintheUnitedStatesmightproveaprofitableformofinvestment.

“BRICKSPAWN.”

ForcommercialpurposestheEnglishmethodofmakingthespawnintobrickshas some advantages over the French “flake” process. Its compact anduniform shape makes the brick more convenient for storage and generalhandling, and greatly facilitates its transportation to long distances. Brickspawnismadeinthefollowingmanner:Cleanhorsedroppings,cowmanure,loam,androadsweepingsarebeatenupinamortar-likeconsistencyandthenformed into bricks, moulds being used, slightly differing in shape withdifferentmakers,butusuallythinnerandwiderthancommonbuildingbricks.Thefollowingproportionsaregiven:(1)Horsedroppingsthechiefpart;one-fourthcowdung;remainderloam.(2)Freshhorsedroppingsmixedwithshortlitterforthegreaterpart;cowdung,onethird;andtherestmouldorloam.(3)Horse dung, cow dung, and loam, in equal parts. When about half dry,depressionsaremadeinthebricks,sometimesinthecentre,andsometimesineachcorner,andsmallpiecesofgoodspawnareplacedinthesedepressions,andplasteredoverwiththematerialofthebrick.Thecakesarethenlaidouttodry,standingontheiredges,andwhennearlydryarepiledinpairswiththespawn-larded surfaces face to face. The bricks are then stacked away, andcoveredwithsweetfermentinglitter,sufficientlytocauseaheatof60°F.Itshouldnotbeover70°F.Onespawnmanufacturersays that themost rapidand successful growth of themycelium is attainedwhen the temperature isfrom63°F.to67°F.Thebricksareexaminedfrequentlyduringtheprocess,andwhenthemyceliumoftheoldspawnhaspermeatedthewholemasslikeafinewhitemould,thebricksaretakenoutanddriedinawell-ventilateddarkplace. They are then placed in a cool, dark storehouse,where they are notsubjecttodampnessandwherethetemperatureisabout50°F.,notover65°orbelow35°F.Slight ventilation is necessary, but not enough tomake thebricksdust-dry.Keepingthespawndrymerelysuspendsitsgrowth;assoonas it is again submitted to favorable conditions of moisture and heat, itspristine activity returns. Dampness, combined with heat, stimulates thegrowthofmycelium;frostalsodestroysthevitalityofthespawn.Itisevident,therefore,thattheseconditionsshouldnotexistinthestore-room.

Onemanufactureradvocatespilingthebricks,afterspawning,onaclayfloor,packingcloselyfourbricksdeep,andcoveringthemwithsiftedloam.Bythismethoditisclaimedthatdangerof“firefang”willbeavoided,asthebrickswill be kept at a perfectly uniform temperature of about 60° or 66°,whichcausesthespawntorunquicklyanduniformly.Infromfourtosixweekstheyarereadytotakeoutanddryforuseorstorage.

TheFrenchor“Flake”spawncomesinlightmassesofloose,drylitter.Itisobtainedinthefollowingway:Abedismadeupasifformushroomsintheordinary way, and spawned with “virgin” spawn, and when the bed isthoroughlyimpregnatedwithspawn,itisbrokenupandsetasidetodry.Thisspawnisusuallysoldinsmallboxes,containingfromtwotofivepounds,butitalsocanbeobtainedinbulkwhenitispurchasedbyweight.TheFrenchor“flake”spawnismuchmoreexpensivethantheEnglishor“brick”spawn.Itis claimed by some very successful growers, who have tried both, that thebrick spawn produces heavier and fleshier mushrooms than the French“flake.”

“MILLTRACK”SPAWN.

“Mill track” spawnwas formerly considered the best inEngland, but sincehorse power has given place to steam power in the mills there is now nofurther supply ofmill track, and it is practically superseded by the “brick”spawn.Thereal“milltrack”isthenaturalspawnthathasspreadthroughthethoroughly amalgamated horse droppings in mill tracks, or the sweepingsfrommilltracks.

SPAWNPRODUCEDINAMANUREHEAP.

During the past year I have made some experiments in the pine and oakwoods of Hynesboro’ Park, Maryland, with relation to spawn culture, anaccount of which may prove of interest to students in this line ofinvestigation.Severalloadsofstablemanureandoak-leafbeddingwerewellmixedandformedintoamoundaboutthreefeetinheight,havingadiameterofsixfeet,andtaperingtoaboutfourinchesindepthattheouteredge.Themasswas quitemoist and slightly tamped to give it general consistency. Itwas exposed to the open air, without protection, during the months ofSeptember,October,andNovember.Inthemeantime,frequentrainsoccurred.On examination itwas found that the rains did not penetrate to a depth ofmore than four inches. On opening up the centre of the mound, it wasobserved that the portion thus exposed consisted of highly decomposedleaves, and presented a white mass of matted, “burned” mycelium. It was

evident that the temperatureat thatpointhadrisenconsiderablyabove100°Fahr. The mycelium was, doubtless, produced in abundance before thetemperature reached 100 Fahr. and became scorched as the temperatureincreased.On examining the outer edges,where the depthwas only twelveinches, I found an abundance of mycelium which did not show anyappearance of having been scorched by undue temperature. Since nomyceliumhadbeenadded to themound, it is evident that the sporeswhichproduceditmusthavebeenpresent,althoughunobserved,andawaitingonlytheproperconditionsfordevelopment,i.e.,forbuddingandtheproductionofmycelium. At the end of the thirdmonth, groups of the commonmeadowmushroom, Agaricus campestris, together with some fine examples ofTricholomaterreum,anediblemushroom,commontothesewoods,appearedontheedgesofthemound.

APPENDIXA.

CONTINUATIONOFGLOSSARYOFTERMSUSEDINDESCRIBINGMUSHROOMS.

Maculate,spotted.Marginate,havingadistinctborder.Matrix,thesubstanceuponwhichamushroomgrows.Medial,atthemiddle;oftheringofamushroomwhichisbetween

superiororneartheapexofthestem,anddistantorfarremovedfromtheapex.

Merismoid,havingabranchedorlaciniatepileus.Moniliform,contractedatintervalsinthelength,likeastringofbeads.Multifid,havingmanydivisions.Multipartite,dividedintomanyparts.Mycelium,thedelicatethreadsproceedingfromthegerminatingspores,

usuallywhiteandpopularlytermedspawn.

Narrow,ofveryslightverticalwidth.Netted,coveredwithprojectingreticulatedlines.Nucleus,thereproductivegerminthespore.

Obconic,inverselyconical.Obcordate,likeaninvertedheart.Oblique,slanting.Oblong,longerthanbroad.Obovate,inverselyegg-shaped,broadestattheapex.Obtuse,bluntorrounded.Ochrospore,ochre-coloredspore.Orbicular,havingtheformofanorb.Order,groupofaclassificationintermediatebetweentribeandfamily.Ostiole,ostiolum,mouthoftheperithecium;orificethroughwhichthe

sporesaredischarged.Ovate,egg-shaped.

Pallid,pale,undecidedcolor.Papillate,papillose,coveredwithsofttubercles.Paraphyses,sterilecellsfoundwiththereproductivecellsofsome

plants.Parasitic,growingonandderivingsupportfromanotherplant.Partial,ofaveilclothingthestemandreachingtotheedgeofthecap

butnotextendingbeyondit.Patent,spreading.Pectinate,toothedlikeacomb.Pedicel,foot-stock.Pedicillate,havingapedicel.Pelliculose,furnishedwithapellicleordistinctskin.Penciled,withpencil-likehairseitheronthetiporborder.Peridium,generalcoveringofapuff-ball,simpleordouble,dehiscentor

indehiscentatmaturity.Perithecia,bottle-likereceptaclescontainingasci.Peronate,usedwhenthestemhasadistinctstocking-likecoat.Persistent,inclinedtoholdfirm,tenacious.Pervious,forminganopentube-likepassage.Pileate,havingacap.Pileoli,secondarypilei;arisingfromadivisionoftheprimarypileus.Pileus,thecap,receptacle,oronepartofamushroom;otherpartsarethe

stemandgills.Pilose,coveredwithhairs.Pits,depressionsincellsortubesresemblingpores,appliedalsoto

hollowdepressionsinthesurfaceofthecapofthemorel.Plumose,feathery.Pore,orificeofthetubesofpolypores.Poriform,intheformofpores.Porous,havingpores.Powdery,coveredwithbloomorpowder.Projecting,theanteriorendjuttingoutbeyondthemargin.Proliferous,appliedtoanorganwhichgivesrisetosecondaryonesof

thesamekind.Pruinose,coveredwithfrost-likebloom.Pruniform,plum-shaped.Pubescent,downy.Pulverulent,coveredwithdust.Pulvinate,cushion-shaped.Punctate,dottedwithpoints.Pyriform,pear-shaped.

Quaternate,arrangedingroupsoffour.

Receptacle,apartofthemushroomextremelyvariedinform,consistency,andsize,inclosingtheorgansofreproduction.

Remote,whenthemarginofthegillcomestoanendbeforereachingthestem.

Reniform,kidney-shaped.Repand,bentbackwards.Resupinate,ofmushroomsspreadoverthematrixwithoutanystemand

withthehymeniumupwards;invertedbytwistingofthestalk.

Reticulate,markedwithcrosslineslikethemeshesofanet.Revolute,rolledbackwards;ofthemarginofacap,theoppositeof

involute.Rhodospore,roseorpinkspore.Rimose,cracked.Ring,apartoftheveiladheringtothestemofamushroomintheshape

ofaring.Rivulose,markedwithlineslikerivulets.Rubiginous,rustcolored.Rufescent,reddishincolor.Rugose,wrinkled.

APPENDIXB.Through the courtesy of Mr. Hollis Webster, Secretary of the BostonMycological Club, the following list of mushrooms, which have beencollected and eatenbymembersof that clubduring thepast year, hasbeensuppliedtome:

AMANITA.A.CæsareaScop.,“TrueOrange.”A.rubescensPersoon.A.vaginataBull.

LEPIOTA.L.proceraScop.,“ParasolMushroom.”L.rachodesVilt.L.AmericanaPk.L.naucinoides.

ARMILLARIA.A.melleaVahl,“HoneyMushroom.”

TRICHOLOMA.T.equestreL.T.sejunctumLow,“YellowBlusher.”

T.portentosumFr.T.coryphacumFr.T.russulaSchaeff.T.columbettaFr.T.gambosumFr.,“St.George’sMushroom.”T.personatum.T.nudum.

HYGROPHORUS.H.virgineusFr.H.fuligineusFrost.H.flavodiscusFrost,“YellowSweet-Bread.”H.hypothejusFr.H.puniceusFr.

LACTARIUS.L.piperatusFr.L.deliciosusFr.L.volemusFr.

RUSSULA.R.virescensFr.R.lepidaFr.R.punctataGt.R.aurataFr.R.ochraceaFr.R.alutaceaFr.

CANTHARELLUS.C.cibariusFr.C.umbonatusFr.

MARASMIUS.M.oreadesFr.,“FairyRing.”M.scorodoniusFr.M.alliaceusFr.

HYPHOLOMA.H.sublateritiumSchaeff.H.candolleanumFr.H.perplexum.H.appendiculatumBull.

COPRINUS.C.comatusFr.,“ShaggyMane.”C.ovatusFr.C.atramentarius.C.micaceusFr.C.fimetariusFr.

CORTINARIUS.C.turmalisFr.C.sebaceusFr.C.cærulescensFr.C.collinitusFr.C.violaceusFr.C.alboviolaceusPers.C.cinnamomeusFr.C.cinnamomeusvar.semi-sanguineusFr.

CLITOCYBE.C.clavipesFr.C.odoraFr.C.dealbataLow.C.laccataScop.C.multicepsPk.C.infundibuliformisSchaeff.

COLLYBIA.C.dryophilaBull.C.velutipesCurt.

PLEUROTUS.P.ostreatusFr.P.sapidusKalch.P.ulmariusFr.,Elm-treeMushroom.P.pluteuscervinusSchaeff.

CLITOPILUS.C.prunulusScop.C.orcellaBull.C.unitinctusPk.C.SeymourianusPk.

PHOLIOTA.P.caperataPers.,“TheGypsy.”P.præcox(whentoooldisbitter).P.adiposa.

AGARICUS(Psalliota).A.arvensis.A.cretaceusFr.A.campesterL.A.silvicolaVilt.

SPARASSIS.S.crispaFr.

CLAVARIA.(AnyandallClavariasfoundaregenerallyeatenbyuswithout

identification).C.botrytesPers.C.amethystinaBull.C.coralloidesL.C.cinereaBull.C.aureaSchaeff.C.rugosaBull.C.pistillarisL.

LYCOPERDON.L.cyathiformeBose.L.giganteumBatsch.L.pyriformeSchaeff.L.saccatumFr.

MORCHELLA.M.esculentaBull.M.conicaPers.

PEZIZA.P.aurantiaVahl.

STROBILOMYCES.S.strobilaceusBerk.

FISTULINA.F.hepaticaFr.,“BeefSteakMushroom.”

POLYPORUS.P.betulinusFr.(coriaceouswhenold).P.sulphureusFr.

HYDNUM.H.imbricatumL.H.repandumL.H.caput-medusæBull.

AlsothirteenoftheBoleti.

STUDENT’SHAND-BOOKOF

MUSHROOMSOFAMERICA

EDIBLEANDPOISONOUS.

BYTHOMASTAYLOR,M.D.AUTHOROFFOODPRODUCTS,ETC.

PublishedinSerialForm—No.3—Price,50c.pernumber.

WASHINGTON,D.C.:A.R.TAYLOR,PUBLISHER,238MASS.AVE.N.E.

1897.

THENORRISPETERSCO.,PHOTO-LITHO.,WASHINGTON,D.C.

PLATEE.

Plate E illustrates various forms and positions of the annulus or ringcharacteristic of certain species ofmushrooms, togetherwith the cortina orveilofwhichthering,ifpresent,istheremnant,insomespecies,eitherasitappearsentireorasafringeonthemarginofthecap,contrastingtheseformswithasectionalviewofaspeciesinwhichtheveilorringisalwayswanting.

Fig.1.Ringbroad,reflexedordeflexed,orboth;situatedhighuponthestem,asinArmillariamellea.

Fig.2.Ringsituatedaboutmidwayofthestem,deflexedandpendulousasinAmanitamuscaria.

Fig.3.Ringabouthalfmidwayofthestem,split,andradiatingoutwards,asinAgaricusarvensis.

Fig.4.Ringdrooping.Fig.5.Ringpersistent,movable,whollydetached,inage,fromthetall

andslenderstem,uponwhichiteasilyslipsupanddown.Aspeciesofgreatbeauty,Lepiotaprocera.

Fig.6.Ringnarrow,scarcelyperceptibleabovethemiddleofthestem;remnantsoftheveiladheringtothemarginofthecapasafugaciousweb.

Fig.7.Ringgenerallywanting—Tricholomanudum.Remnantsoftheveilseenonthemarginofthecap.

Fig.8.Remnantsoftheveilappearingonthemarginofthecapasafringe,andparticularlyonthestemasamerefibrillosezoneofadarkercolorasintheCortinarii.

Fig.9.Plantexhibitingthecortinaunbroken,theextremitiesofitsdelicatearachnoidthreadsattachedtocapandstem,respectively.

Fig.10.SectionofaRussula,inwhichgenustheringisalwayswanting;veilnone.

THENORRISPETERSCO.,PHOTO-LITHO.,WASHINGTON,D.C.

PLATEF.

Plate F illustrates by section or otherwise various forms of these gill-likeprocessescharacteristicofspecies,consideredeitherwithregardtomarginaloutlineorpositionoftheirposteriorextremity:

Fig.1.Gillsdistant.Fig.2.Gillscrowded.Fig.3.Gillsflexuose.Fig.4.Gillsunequal.Fig.5.Bifurcated.Fig.6.Anastomosingveins.Fig.6a.Sectionalview.Fig.7.Gillsnarrow.Fig.8.Gillsbroad.Fig.9.Lanceolate.Fig.10.Ventricose.Fig.11.Anteriorlyrounded.Fig.12.Posteriorlyrounded.Fig.13.Emarginate.Fig.14.Emarginateanddenticulate.

Copyright,1897,byTHOMASTAYLOR,M.D.,

andA.R.TAYLOR

AGARICINI.

SubgenusHypholoma. Hymenophore continuouswith the stem, veilwovenintoafugaciousweb,whichadherestothemarginofthepileus.Gillsadnateorsinuate;sporesbrownishpurple,sometimesintensepurple,almostblack.—M.C.Cooke.

Thissubgenushasbeendividedintothefollowingfivegroups:

1. Fasciculares.—Pileussmooth,tough,brightcoloredwhendry,nothygrophanous.Examples,Ag.(Hypholoma)sublateritiusandAg.(Hypholoma)fascicularis.

2. Viscidi.—Pileusnaked,viscid.Example,Ag.(Hypholoma)œdipus.3. Velutini.—Pileussilky,withinnatefibrils.Example,Ag.(Hypholoma)velutinus.

4. Flocculosi.—Pileuscladwithfloccosesuperficialevanescentscales.Example,Ag.(Hypholoma)cascus.

5. Appendiculati.—Pileussmoothandhygrophanous.Example,Ag.(Hypholoma)Candollianus.

The species are not numerous. They are generally either gregarious orcæspitose,andareoftenfoundinclustersupontreestumps,orspringingfromthe buried roots of stumps.A few species are found in short grass in openplaces; but few are recorded as edible, and one, H. fascicularis, has beenclassedasdeleteriousbyBerkeley,Cooke,andsomeoftheearlierauthors.Ifind,however,noauthenticatedcaseofpoisoningbythisspecies,and,indeed,have as yet found no species of Hypholoma which could be satisfactorilyidentifiedasH.fascicularis.

ThefewspeciesofHypholomawhichIhavetestedhavebeenpalatable,andoneortwoareofverydelicateflavor.

PlateVIII.EDIBLE

Agaricus(Hypholoma)sublateritiusFries(Hypholomasublatertium)“BrickTop.”

GroupfromSeabrookeWoods,Md.T.Taylor,del.

PLATEVIII.

Ag.(Hypholoma)sublateritiusSchaeff.“RedTuft.”(Hypholomasublateritium)“TheBrickTop.”

EDIBLE.

The cap of this species is fleshy and obtuse, convexo-plane, sometimesshowing a superficialwhitish cloudiness upon themargin coming from theveil,whichsoondisappears,leavingitsmoothanddry;colortawnybrickred,with pale straw margin; flesh compact and whitish, turning yellow whenwilted.Stemstuffedandfibrillose,taperingdownward.Nearitsattachmenttothecapthecolorisverylightyellow;lowerdownandtowardstherootit iscoveredwithpatchesandlinesofburntsiennacolor.Itbearsnodistinctring.Inveryyoungplantsthefilmyveilissometimesperceived,reachingfromthemarginofthecaptothestem.Thisdisappearsasthecapexpands,sometimesleaving the stem obscurely annulate. Gills adnate in full-grown specimens,slightly decurrent, somewhat crowded, dingywhite or cinereous, turning todark olive, never yellow; in old or wilted specimens changing to a darkbrown. In old specimens the cap is a reddish brown and the gills are

sometimesstainedwiththepurplishbrownofthespores.

This isaverycommonspeciesandveryabundant inpineandoakwoods.IhaveseenanoakstumpinPrinceGeorge’sCounty,Md.,measuringfrom3to4 feet in height, literally covered with mushrooms of this species. Thismushroomhasbeenrecordedassuspiciousbysomewriters,probablyowingtoitsslightlybittertaste,butIhavethoroughlytesteditsediblequalities,bothuncookedandpreparedinvariouswaysforthetable,usingthecapsonly.Itkeepswellwhendried, andwhenground into powder,with the addition ofboilingwaterandalittlepepperandsalt,makesaverypleasantandnutritiousbeverage. It is most abundant in the early autumn, and is gathered in thislatitudewellintothewinter,evenwhenthesnowisontheground.

OurAmericanplantislessheavyandmoregracefulinaspectthanthesamespecies in England, as figured in English works, but the generalcharacteristicsarethesame.

Ag. (Hypholoma) fascicularisHudson, recordedasdeleterious, is figured in“Cooke’sIllustrations.”

Dr. Berkeley thus distinguishes these two species from each other. Cap ofsublateritiusisobtuse,discoid;thatoffascicularis,subumbonate.Fleshoftheformer,compact,dingy-white;thatofthelatter,yellow.Steminsublateritiusis“stuffed,”attenuateddownwards,ferruginous;stemoffascicularishollow,thin, flexuose. The gills in both species are adnate, crowded; but infascicularistheyarealsolinearanddeliquescent,andareyellowincolor.

NOTE.—In the Friesian arrangement of the genera of the order Agaricini,which isadoptedbyM.C.Cooke,Hypholomafindsplaceasasubgenusofthe genus Agaricus, spore series Pratelli. Saccardo in his Sylloge elevatesHypholoma to the rankofa separategenusandplaces it inhis spore seriesMelanosporæ.

EDIBLEAgaricus(Hypholoma)Candollianus,Fries.,varietyincertusPeckFiguredfromspecimenscollectedintheDistrictofColumbia

T.Taylor,del.

PLATEIX.

Agaricus(Hypholoma)incertusPeck.(Hypholomaincertum.)

EDIBLE.

Capfleshybutfragile,smoothandhygrophanous,moist;atfirstconvex,thenexpanding; color creamy white. Gills adnate, narrow, crowded, whitish inyoung specimens, turning to a pinkish dun color, later to a rosy cinnamon,sometimes showing when mature a slightly purplish tint. Stem smooth,slender, long and hollow, with slight striations near the apex, white.Specimens occur in which the stem is obscurely annulate arising from theattachmenttoitoffragmentsoftheveil,butusuallyitisringless.

The typical speciesofHypholomahave the fleshypartof thecapconfluentwith the stem, but in H. incertum the stem is not confluent and is easilyseparatedfromthecapasintheLepiotas.ThismushroomwasfirstrecordedbyPeckinhisearlyreportsasthevariety“incertus”ofthespeciesAgaricus(Hypholoma) Candollianus, but has since been recorded by Saccardo as adistinctspecies,Hypholomaincertum.

Two species of Hypholoma have the same habit and sufficiently resembleincertum to be taken for it, if not carefully examined as to points of

difference.TheseareH.Candollianum,named inhonorofA.DeCandolle,andH.appendiculatum. In the first named of these two species the cap iswhitish,thegillsatfirstvioletincolor,changingtodarkcinnamonbrown.InH.appendiculatumthepileusisrugosewhendry,andsprinkledwithatoms.ItisdarkerincolorthanthatofH.incertum;Cookesaystawnyorpaleochre;Massee says bay, then tawny. The gills are sub-adnate, in color resemblingthoseofH.incertum;stemslender,smooth,andwhite.

FromtheforegoingitwillbeseenthatH. incertumagreesmorenearlywithH. Candollianum in the color of the cap, but more nearly with H.appendiculatum in the color of the gills. Saccardo recognizes the three as“distinct species of the genus Hypholoma.” As all are edible, the slightdifferences observed are interesting chiefly to the mycologist. Themycophagist will find them equally valuable from a gastronomic point ofview.Intaste theyresemblethecommonmushroom.Theyaremorefragile,however,andrequirelesscookingthanthecultivatedmushroom.Broiledontoastorcookedfortenminutesinachafingdish,theymakeaveryacceptableadditiontothelunchmenu.

ThespecimensfiguredinPlateIXwereselectedfromacropofthirtyormoregrowing in the author’s garden, in very rich soil at the base of a plum-treestump.Forseveralseasonspastsmallcropshavebeengatheredfromthesamespot,aswellasaroundthebaseofaflourishingpeachtree.QuantitiesofallthreespecieshavebeengatheredintheshortgrassoftheCapitolgroundsfora number of seasons, and in the various parks of theDistrict ofColumbia.Specimens have been received fromwesternNewYork andMassachusetts.Those growing upon soil very heavily fertilized are apt to be somewhatstouterandshorterstemmedthanthosecomingupthroughtheshortgrassintheparks.

ANALYTICALTABLE.The following compendious analytical table showing prominentcharacteristics of the leading genera and subgenera of the order Agaricini,accordingtoFries,WorthingtonSmith,andotherbotanists,whichappearsinCooke’sHandBook,revisededition,willbefoundhelpfultothecollectorindeterminingthegenustowhichaspecimenmaybelong.

ORDERAGARICINI

I. Sporeswhiteorveryslightlytinted—Leucospori1.Plantfleshy,moreorlessfirm,putrescent(neitherdeliquescentnorcoriaceous)2.Hymenophorefree3.Pileusbearingwartsorpatchesfreefromthecuticle(volvate)Amanita3.Pileusscaly,scalesconcretewiththecuticle(notvolvate)Lepiota

2.Hymenophoreconfluent4.Withoutcartilaginousbark5.Stemcentral6.WitharingArmillaria6.Ringless7.GillssinuateTricholoma7.Gillsdecurrent8.EdgeacuteClitocybe8.EdgeswollenobtuseCANTHARELLUS

7.Gillsadnate9.ParasiticonotherAgaricsNYCTALIS9.Notparasitic10.MilkyLACTARIUS10.Notmilky11.RigidandbrittleRUSSULA11.WaxyHYGROPHORUS

5.StemlateralorabsentPleurotus4.Withcartilaginousbark

12.GillsadnateCollybia12.GillssinuateMycena12.GillsdecurrentOmphalia

1.Planttough,coriaceousorwoody13.Stemcentral.14.GillssimpleMARASMIUS14.GillsbranchedXEROTUS

13.Stemlateralorwanting15.GillstoothedLENTINUS15.GillsnottoothedPANUS15.GillschannelledlongitudinallyorcrispedTROGIA15.GillssplittinglongitudinallySCHIZOPHYLLUM15.GillsanastomosingLENZITES

II. Sporesrosyorsalmoncolor—Hyporhodii16.Withoutcartilaginousbark17.Hymenophorefree18.WithavolvaVolvaria18.Withoutavolva19.WitharingAnnularia19.RinglessPluteus

17.Hymenophoreconfluent,notfree20.Stemcentral21.GillsadnateorsinuateEntoloma21.GillsdecurrentClitopilus

20.StemlateralorabsentClaudopus16.Withcartilaginousbark22.GillsdecurrentEccilia22.Gillsnotdecurrent23.PileustornintoscalesLeptonia23.Pileuspapillose,sub-campanulate.24.Gillsmembranaceous,persistentNolanea24.Gillssub-deliquescentBOLBITIUS

III. Sporesbrownish,sometimesrusty,reddishoryellowishbrown.—Dermini.25.Withoutcartilaginousbark.26.Stemcentral.27.Witharing.28.RingcontinuousPholiota28.Ringarachnoid,likeaspider’sweb

filamentousorevanescent.29.GillsadnateterrestrialCORTINARIUS29.Gillsdecurrent,oracutelyadnate,mostlyepiphytal,Flammula

27.Withoutaring.30.WithrudimentaryvolvaAcetabularia30.Withoutavolva.31.Gillsadheringtothehymenophore,andsinuate.32.CuticlefibrilloseorsilkyInocybe32.CuticlesmoothviscidHebeloma

31.Gillsseparatingfromthehymenophore,anddecurrent,PAXILLUS

26.StemlateralorabsentCrepidotus25.Withcartilaginousbark.33.GillsdecurrentTubaria33.Gillsnotdecurrent.34.MarginofpileusatfirstincurvedNaucoria34.Marginofpileusalwaysstraight.35.HymenophorefreePluteolus35.HymenophoreconfluentGalera

IV. Sporespurple,sometimesbrownishpurple,darkpurple,ordarkbrown.—Pratellæ.36.Withoutcartilaginousbark.37.Hymenophorefree.38.WithavolvaChitonia38.WithoutavolvaPsalliota

37.Hymenophoreconfluent.39.VeilnormallyringshapedonthestemStropharia39.VeilnormallyadheringtothemarginofthepileusHypholoma

36.Withcartilaginousbark.40.GillsdecurrentDeconica40.Gillsnotdecurrent.41.Marginofpileusatfirstincurved

Psilocybe41.MarginofpileusatfirststraightPsathyra

V. Sporesblackornearlyso.—Coprinarii.42.GillsdeliquescentCOPRINUS42.Gillsnotdeliquescent.43.GillsdecurrentGOMPHIDIUS43.Gillsnotdecurrent.44.PileusstriatePsathyrella44.PileusnotstriatePanæolus

In the Friesian classification which, with modifications, has prevailed formanyyearsamongmycologists,thegenusAgaricusincludedinitssubgenerathegreaterpartofthespeciesoftheorderAgaricini.Thesubgenera,printedin the above table in italics, were included in this genus. The genera areprinted in capitals. In theSaccardian system, all the subgenera ofAgaricushavingbeenelevatedtogeneric rank, the termAgaricus is limited toaverysmallgroupwhichincludesthesubgenusPsalliotaofFries,thespeciesbeingcharacterized by fleshy caps, free gills, ringed stem, and dark brown orpurplish brown spores. As restricted, it naturally falls into the spore seriesMelanosporeæ.

Inthewhite-sporedsection,Leucospori,therecordedediblespeciesoccurinthe following genera: Marasmius, Cantharellus, Lactarius, Russula,Hygrophorus, Collybia, Pleurotus, Clitocybe, Tricholoma, Armillaria,Lepiota, and Amanita. The plants of Marasmius are usually thin and dry,revivingwithmoisture.Cantharellusischaracterizedbytheobtusenessoftheedges of the lamellæ,Lactarius by the copiousmilky or sticky fluidwhichexudes from the plants when cut or bruised. Russula is closely allied toLactarius, and the plants bear some resemblance in external appearance tothoseof thatgenus,but theyarenevermilky,and thegillsareusually rigidandbrittle.InHygrophorustheplantsaremoist,notverylarge,oftenbrightcolored, and the gills have a waxy appearance. The Collybias are usuallycæspitose, the stems exteriorly cartilaginous, in some species swelling andsplittingopeninthecentre.

In Pleurotus the stem is lateral or absent. The plants are epiphytal, usuallyspringingfromthedecayingbarkoftreesandoldstumps.

InClitocybetheplantsarecharacterizedbyadeeplydepressed,oftennarrowcap, with the gills acutely adnate, or running far down the stem, which iselastic, with a fibrous outer coat covered with minute fibers.Many of thespecieshaveafragrantodor.TheTricholomasarestoutandfleshy,somewhatresemblingtheRussulas,butdistinguishedfromthembythesinuatecharacter

of the gills, which show a slight notched or toothed depression just beforereaching the stem (represented in Fig. 4, Plate IV). Typical species ofArmillariashowawell-definedringandscalesuponthestem,theremainsofthepartialveil,andtheplantsareusuallylarge,andcæspitose.TheLepiotasarerecognizedbythesoft,threadycharacterofthefleshyportionofthecap,and the fringed scales formedby thebreakingof thecuticle.Theeasewithwhich the ringed stem is removed from its socket in the cap is anothercharacteristicwhichdistinguishestheplantsfromthoseofothergenera.

TheAmanitasaredistinguishedby thevolva,whichsheathes the somewhatbulbous stemat itsbaseand the ringandveilwhich in theyoungplant arevery distinct features, the whole plant in embryo being enveloped in thevolva.

TheAmanitagroup,besidescontainingsomeverygoodediblespecies,isalsocredited with containing the most dangerous species of all the mushroomfamily,andsomewhichareundoubtedlyfatalintheireffects.[A]

[A]AmoredetaileddescriptionofthisgroupwillappearinNo.5ofthisseries.

TheNyctaliareminutemushroomsparasiticonothermushrooms.

InOmphalia,theplantsarequitesmall,withmembranaceouscaps,gillstrulydecurrent,andcartilaginousstems.

The Myceneæ are generally very small, slender, and fragile, usuallycæspitose, with bell-shaped caps, sinuate gills, not decurrent, andcartilaginousstems.Insomespeciestheplantsexudeamilkyjuice.

InthegeneraPanus,Lentinus,Lenzites,Schizophyllum,Xerotus,andTrogia,the plants are leathery or coriaceous, dry and tough, and though none arerecordedaspoisonous,theyaretootoughtobeedible.

Themushroomshavingpinkorsalmoncoloredspores,sectionRhodosporii,form the smallest of the four primary groups of Agaricini, the number ofknown species not exceeding 400, and most of these are tasteless, or ofdisagreeableodor,whilesomearerecordedasunwholesome.

Thespeciesarepink-gilledwhenmature,thoughoftenwhiteorwhitishwhenveryyoung.

The recorded edible species are found in Volvaria, Clitopilus, and Pluteus.The Volvariæ are characterized by the very large and perfect volva whichwrapsthebaseofthesteminloosefolds,theringlessstem,andthepink,soft,liquescentgills,whicharefreeandroundedbehind.Thecapisnotwarted;insomespecies it isviscid,andinbombycinus, recordedbyseveralauthorsasedible,andbysomeasdoubtful,itiscoveredwithasilkydown.

InClitopilustheodoroftheediblespeciesismoreorlessmealy.Thecapisfleshy, and the margin at first involute. Two edible species which closelyresemble each other—viz., Clitopilus prunulus, “Plum mushroom,” andClitopilus orcella, “Sweetbread mushroom,”—are highly recommended fortheirdelicacyofflavor.

InLeptoniamostofthespeciesaresmall,thin,andbrittle,correspondingwithMycenain thewhite-sporedseries,andwithPsathyraandPsathyrella in thedark-sporedseries.

EcciliacorrespondswithOmphalia.ClaudopuscorrespondswithPleurotusinitshabitofgrowthandlateralstem,differinginthecolorofthespores.

Annulariaincludesonlyafewsmallspecieshavingaringedstem,novolva,and free pinkgills.Cooke says of this subgenus that noBritish species areknown.

TherecordedspeciesofPluteushavetheirhabitatontreestumps,sawdust,oruponfallen timber.Onespecies,Pluteuscervinus, is recordedasedible,butnotspeciallycommended.OfEntoloma,WorthingtonSmithsays,“Itisalliedto Tricholoma, though most of the species are thinner and often brittle. ItagreesalsoinstructurewithHebelomaandHypholoma.”Noneofthespeciesarerecordedashavingvalueasesculents.

The genus Bolbitius is described by Cooke as a small genus intermediatebetween Agaricus and Coprinus on the one side, and Coprinus andCortinarius on the other. The species are small and ephemeral. Saccardoplaces Bolbitius in his division Melanosporæ, although the spores areochraceous.

InthesectionPratelliPsalliotaandHypholomacontainmushroomswhichareof exceptionally fine flavor. In the first of these is found the common fieldmushroomAgaricuscampesteranditsallies.

Theblack-sporedsectionCoprinariicontainstwogenerawhichincludeafewrecorded edible species, viz., Coprinus and Gomphidius. The Psathyrellascorrespond in size to the Mycenas in the white-spored series and to thePsathyras in the purple-spored section; the gills are free or adnate and turnblackwhenmature.Noneofthespeciesareedible.

InPaneolustheplantsaresomewhatviscidwhenmoist,thegillsaredescribedas “clouded, never becoming purple or brown.” They are usually found onmanureheapsnearcities.Noneareedible.

Saccardo in his Sylloge combines the Pratellæ and Coprinarii, making ofthemonesectionwhichhecallsMelanosporeæ.

G.Massee,theBritishmycologist,makesoftheblack-sporedandthepurpleand purplish-brown spored series two divisions, calling them, respectively,PorphyrosporeæandMelanosporeæ.

The recorded edible species of the spore section Dermini are found inPholiota, Cortinarius, and Paxillus. The larger proportion of the Pholiotasgrowupontreestumps.Theyhaveafugacious,persistentfriablering,andareliabletobeconfusedwiththeCortinarii,unlessattentionispaidtothespideryveilandtheiron-rusttintofthesporesofthelatter.Onlyafewofthespeciesarerecordedasedible,butnoneareknowntobepoisonous.Cortinariusisalarge genus. It contains a larger proportion of edible species than Pholiota,and none are recorded as poisonous. The cobweb-like veil which extendsfromstemtomarginofcapintheyoungspecies,andtherust-coloredsporeswhich dust the gills as the species mature, distinguish the genus from allothers.

A characteristic feature of Paxillus, and one which makes it easilydistinguishablefromothersofthesamegroup,istheeasewithwhichthegillsasawholecanbeseparatedfromthesubstanceorfleshyportionofthecap.There is an exception to this in the species Paxillus involutus, recorded byPeckasedible.

POLYPOREI.Hymeniumliningthecavityoftubesorporeswhicharesometimesbrokenupintoteethorconcentricplates.—Berkeley’sOutlines.

The plants of this second primary group or order of the familyHymenomycetes exhibit a greater dissimilarity of form and texture than dothoseoftheAgaricini.Someofitsgeneraconsistalmostwhollyofcoriaceousor woody plants. A few contain fleshy ones. Some of the species have adistinctstem,whileothersarestemless.Withregard to thereceptacle in theplantsof thegeneraBoletus,Strobilomyces,etc., it formsaperfectcap, likethatofthecommonAgaric,acushionoftubestakingtheplaceofgillsontheundersurfaceofthecap,thehymeniuminthiscaseliningtheinnersurfaceofthetubesfromwhichthesporesdropwhenmature.

Insomespecies,suchasthoseofthegenusPoria,thereceptacleisreducedtoa single thin fibrous stratum, adhering closely to thematrix and exposing asurfaceofcrowdedpores,andinothersitconsistsoffibrousstrataformedin

concentriclayers.

A number of groups, each of which was treated in the original Friesianclassification as a single genus, have more recently been recognized ascomprising several distinct genera. In the Saccardian system the generaTrametes, Dædalea, Merulius, Porothelium, and Fistulina still retain thegeneric rank assigned to them by Fries, but the old genus Boletus issubdividedintofourgenera,Boletus,Strobilomyces,Boletinus,andGyrodon,whilePolyporus,originallyaverylargegenus,issubdividedintothegeneraPolyporus, Fomes, Polystictus, and Poria. This arrangement was in partsuggested by Fries in his laterworks, and is accepted byM.C. Cooke, asindicatedinhislatestworkonfungi.

QuotingM.C.Cooke,“StrobilomycesisBoletuswitharoughwartyandscalypileus;BoletinusisBoletuswithshort,largeradiatingpores;andGyrodon isBoletuswithelongatedsinuateirregularpores,allfleshy,firmfungiofrobusthabit,possessingstemandcap.”ThespeciesofthegenusPolyporusasnowrestrictedare somewhat fleshy in theyoungstage, shrinkingas theymatureanddry, andbecoming induratedwith age. InFomes the species,ofwoodyconsistencyfromthefirst,havenoroomforshrinkage,andarequiterigid;thetubesbeing instrata,and thestratagrowingyearly, thespeciesarevirtuallyperennial.Thepileusoftheplantshowsarigidpolishedcrustresultingfromresinousexudations.

In Polystictus the plants are usually small, thin, tough, and irregular inoutline, the tubes exceedingly short, with thinwalls, which easily split up,giving the pores at times a toothed or fringed appearance. The surface isvelvety,orhairy,andzoned invaryingcolors.Theyareverycommonupondecayingtreestumps,oftencoveringthesurfaceofthestumpingailycoloredlayers.Notesculent.

Poria iscomposedof resupinate specieswith theporesnormally ina singleseries,thewholestratumspreadover,andadheringtothematrix.Thespeciesarecoriaceousorwoody.Notesculent.

The plants of the genus Trametes allied to Fomes are epiphytal, with thetramathesameinsubstanceandcolorasthehymenophore.Thetubesdonotforminregularstrata,butaresunkintothesubstanceofthepileus.Theplantsarecoriaceous,andnoneareedible.

Dædalea closely resembles Trametes with the tubes forming deeplabyrinthiformdepressions.Wholeplantwoody,sessile.

Hexagonia, allied by its characteristics to Polystictus, has large hexagonalpores,withfirm,entiredissepiments.

In Favolus the plants are slightly fleshy and substipitate with the poresangular,andradiatingfromthestem.Notedible.

The species of the genus Laschia are recognized by the shallow irregularpores and the vein like character of their dissepiments (or pore walls).Substanceslightlygelatinous.

IntheplantsofPorothelium,irregularpapillætaketheplaceoftubes,andtheplants are sub-membranaceous and resupinate, having the habit of those ofPoria.

The genusMerulius has been termed the lowest andmost imperfect of thegeneraofPolyporei.Itpresentsasoft,waxyspore-bearingsurface,reticulatedwithobtuse folds.Solenia,byearlyauthorsplaced inDiscomycetes, thencetransferredtoAuricularini,andbysomeauthorsassociatedwithCyphellainTheleporei, now finds place as one of the genera of Polyporei as given bySaccardo.

The above-mentioned genera, together with Myriadoporus, Ceriomyces,Bresadolia,Theleporus,Glœporus,andCyclomyces,constitutethePolyporeæoftheSaccardiansystem.

MyriadoporusisaNorthAmericangenus.ItisaformofthegenusPolyporus,butwithporesintheinterioraswellasontheexteriorsurface.Ceriomycesisgenerallyregardedasaspuriousgenus.ItissimilartoMyriadoporus,butwithinternalporesandonlyspuriousporesexternally.OfBresadoliaCookesays“thereisonlyonedescribedspecies,andofthisonlyonespecimenhasbeenfound.”TheleporusisanAfricangenusofwhichonlyonespeciesisknown.Glœporus is a form of resupinate Polyporus, except that the hymenium orpore-bearing surface is gelatinous instead of being firm. Cyclomyces is agenuswithsomefeaturesofLenzites;itisleathery.Allofthesearemoreorlesscoriaceous.Noneareedible.Campbellia isanewgenus. It isMeruliuswithapileusandcentralstem.

The edible Polyporeæ are found in the genera Boletus, Strobilomyces,Gyrodon,Boletinus,Polyporus,andFistulina.Ofthese, thefirstfourgeneracontainmostoftheediblespeciesaswellasafewwhichhavebeenregardedasunwholesomeorpoisonous.

In the genus Polyporus as now restricted, the species Polyporus sulphureusFries is perhaps the onemost likely to be selected for table use, the othersbecomingveryquicklyinduratedortough,andthisshouldbegatheredwhenveryyoung,asinmaturityitlosesitsfleshyconsistencyandbecomesdryandtough.Itiscommononoldtreestumpsandisoftenfoundonthedeadwoodoflivingtrees,thebrightyellowandvividorangeredtintswhichcharacterizetheyoungplantmakingitveryconspicuous.

It is easily recognized by its irregular, closely overlapping frond-like caps,white flesh, and thevery small sulphur-yellow tubes.The spores arewhite,elliptical.Thefleshofyoungspecimensissomewhatjuicy.

The geographical distribution is wide, and in places where a moist, warmtemperatureprevailsplantsofthisspeciesoftenattainverylargeproportions,sometimes completely encircling the trunk of a tree at its base. The brightcolorsfadeastheplantmatures,andtheplantbecomesinduratedandfriable,whenveryoldcrumblingreadilyinthehands.

Toprepare for the table, very thin slicesof young specimens shouldbe cutandeitherallowed toslowlysimmeron thebackof the range,or soaked inmilkandthenfriedinbutter.

OfthegenusFistulinabutonespecies,Fistulinahepatica,figuredinPlateX,isrecordedasedibleandindigenoustothiscountry.

FISTULINAHEPATICA

1Specimen,upperview.2Same,underview.3Specimen,upperview.4Same,underview.

5Spores.K.MAYO,del.

PLATEX.

FistulinahepaticaBull.“BeefsteakMushroom,”“LiverFungus.”

EDIBLE.

GenusFistulinaBull.Hymenophorefleshy,hymeniuminferior,thatis,ontheundersurfaceofthecap,atfirstpapillose;thepapillæatlengthelongated,andformingdistincttubes.

Besides Fistulina hepatica, five species of this genus are recorded inSaccardo’sSylloge,viz.,F.radicataSchw.,F.spathulataB.&C.,F.pallidaB. & R., F. rosea Mont., and F. antarctica Speg.; the last indigenous toPatagonia.

F.hepatica is the only specieswithwhich I am familiar.Theplants of thisspecies are very irregular in form, rootless, epiphytal, often stemless, andsometimes attached to the matrix by a very short stem. This fungus isfrequently found upon old oak, chestnut, and ash trees, developing in therottingbark.Itappearsfirstasarosypimple,orinaseriesofredgranules.Ina very short time it becomes tongue-shaped, sometimes kidney shaped,assuming the color of a beet root. As it increases in size it changes formagain,becomingbroadinproportiontoitslength,andchangingincolortoadeepbloodred,andfinallytoadulllivertint.Itslowersurfaceisoftenpalerthanitsupper,itbeingtingedwithyellowandpinkishhues.

One author states that it requires about two weeks to attain its highestdevelopment,afterwhichitgraduallydecays.

Itvariesinsizefromafewinchestoseveralfeetincircumference.Rev.M.J.Berkeleymentionsonewhichweighedthirtypounds. Ithasbeenstyled, the“poorman’sfungus,”andinflavorresemblesmeatmorethananyother.

Thesubstance is fleshyand juicy in theearlystage.Thepileus ispapillose,thepapillæelongated,andformingdistincttubesasthepileusexpands.Thesetubes are separable fromeachother, andwith agebecomeapproximate andjagged at their orifices. The tubes are at first yellowish, with a pink tinge,becoming dingy with age. The fleshy substance, or hymenophore, is oftenveined in light and dark red streaks.The juice is pellucid, red, and slightlyacid.Sporesatfirstnearlyround,becomingelliptical,salmoncolor.

ThisfungusisesteemedinEurope,whereitiseatenpreparedinavarietyofways.

Whenyoungand tender it canbe slicedandbroiledormincedand stewed,making a delicious dish.When too old the stock is rather tough for goodeating,butthegravytakenfromitformsarichflavoringforavegetablesteworameatragout.Thefollowingrecipeforcookingthismushroomhasbeenrecommended:

Sliceandmacerate it, addpepperand salt, a little lemon,andchoppedonions or garlic; then strain and boil the liquid, which makes mostexcellentgravy,resemblingthatofgoodbeefsteak.

TheFistulinahepaticaiswellknowninEurope,andisfoundindifferentpartsof the United States, in some places growing abundantly. I have gatheredsome fine specimens in Maryland and Virginia, but none as large as thatdescribedbyDr.Berkeley.

RECIPESFORCOOKINGMUSHROOMS.

ToPotMushrooms.—Thesmallopenmushroomssuitbest forpotting.Trimandrubthem;putintoastewpanaquartofmushrooms,3ouncesofbutter,2teaspoonfulsofsalt,andhalfateaspoonfulofcayenneandmace,mixed,andstew for tenor fifteenminutes,or till themushroomsare tender; take themcarefullyoutanddrainthemperfectlyonaslopingdish,andwhencoldpressthemintosmallpotsandpourclarifiedbutteroverthem,inwhichstatetheywillkeep foraweekor two.Writing-paperplacedover thebutter,andoverthatmeltedsuet,willeffectuallypreservethemforweeksinadry,coolplace.

ToPickleMushrooms.—Selectanumberofsound,smallpasturemushrooms,asnearly alike aspossible in size.Throw them for a fewminutes into coldwater, then drain them, cut off the stalks, and gently rub off the outer skinwithamoistflanneldippedinsalt;thenboilthevinegar,addingtoeachquarttwoouncesof salt, half anutmeggrated, adramofmace, andanounceofwhitepeppercorns.Putthemushroomsintothevinegarfortenminutesoverthe fire; thenpour thewhole into small jars, taking care that the spices areequallydivided;letthemstandaday,thencoverthem.

BakedMushrooms.—Peelthetopsoftwentymushrooms;cutoffaportionofthestalksandwipethemcarefullywithapieceofflanneldippedinsalt.Laythemushroomsinatindish,putasmallpieceofbutteronthetopofeach,andseasonwith pepper and salt. Set the dish in the oven and bake them fromtwentyminutestohalfanhour.Whendone,arrangethemhighinthecentreofaveryhotdish,pourthesaucearoundthem,andservequicklyandashotasyoupossiblycan.

Mushrooms with Bacon.—Take some full-grown mushrooms, and, having

cleanedthem,procureafewrashersofnicestreakybaconandfrythemintheusualmanner.When nearly done add a dozen or so ofmushrooms and frythemslowlyuntiltheyarecooked.Inthisprocesstheywillabsorballthefatofthebacon,andwiththeadditionofalittlesaltandpepperwillformamostappetizingbreakfastrelish.

Mushroom Pie.—A very good mushroom pie is made in the followingmanner:Chopaquart ofmushrooms into small pieces, season to taste, andaddonepoundofroundsteakchoppedfineandseasonedwithasmallpieceof onion. If the steak is lean, add a small piece of suet, unless butter ispreferred to give flavor. Put the chopped steak and mushrooms in deepsaucepan with cover, and stew slowly until tender. Make a crust as forbeefsteakpieandputinadeepeartherndish,lightlybrowningtheundercrustbeforeaddingthestew,andcoverwithacrustlightlypunctured.

InsomepartsofRussiamushroomsformanimportantpartofthedietofthepeople, especially during the Lenten season, when the fast of the Greekchurchisverystrictlykept,andmeat,fish,eggs,andbutterareforbidden.

Provision ismade for this season in the securing of quantities of dried andsaltedmushrooms, which are cut up in strips andmade into salads with adressingofoliveoilandvinegar.Thepoorerclassestowhomtheoliveoilisunattainableusetherapeseedandothervegetableoilsinthecookingoftheirmushrooms.

ThefollowingrecipesaretranslatedfromarecentlypublishedRussianworkonthesubjectofmushrooms,cultivatedandwild:

Select fresh, sound Boleti, cut off the caps, and, after wiping cleanwith anapkin, place them in a sieve, pouring over them scalding water; whenthoroughly drained, leave them where there is a free current of air untilperfectlydry.Next string themuponstout twine, leavingspacesbetween toallowoffreecirculationofair.Ifconvenient,theycanbedriedartificiallybyplacinginanottoohotovenwiththedooropen.Driedbyeithermethod,theycanbekeptallwinter.Beforeusing,theyshouldbesoakedinwaterormilkuntilsoft.Inthisconditiontheymakeverygoodflavoringforsouporgravy,andcanalsobeusedasfillingforpies.

Mushrooms Cooked in Butter.—Wipe the mushrooms clean and dip in dryflour. Heat a quantity of butter to boiling temperature in a saucepan,seasoning with a small piece of onion. Drop the flour-coveredmushroomsinto the boiling butter, shaking the pan constantly over the fire.When themushroomsarecookedaddsourcreamtotaste.Beforeserving,sprinklewithgratedmuscatnut.

MushroomPickle.—Selectonlyyoungbuttonmushrooms.Putthemforafew

momentsinboilingwaterlightlysaltedandvinegared.Boilvinegar(onlythebestshouldbeused),spicingitaccordingtotaste.Allowthevinegartocool.Put the mushrooms in layers in a jar and pour over them enough spicedvinegartocover.Sealtightly.

SaltedPiperites.—OnlythecapsaretakenoftheLactariuspiperites.Theyareplaced first in salted scaldingwater for severalminutes. Thewater is thengently pressed outwith a napkin, themushrooms are placed on sieves andcoldwater poured over them. They are then placed in layers in a jar, eachlayersprinkledwithsalt,andwholepepperandmincedonionscatteredoverthelayer.Whenthejarisfullathinroundboardisplaceduponthetoplayerandpresseddownwithweights, andas themassgiveswaymushroomsareaddeduntilthejariscompactlyfilled.Thejaristhencoveredwithparchmentorotherwisetightlysealed.Eightgallonsofmushroomsrequirefromonetooneandahalfglassesofsalt.Thismakesagoodsaladwhentreatedwithoil.

NOTE.—L.piperites is an extremelyacridmushroomwhen in the rawstate,and theRussiansdonot stew it,butprepare it in theaboveway, taking theprecaution to scald thoroughly with salted water before putting away. Theprecaution of scalding through several waters is a wise one to use in thepreparation of allmushrooms inasmuch as the poisonous principle ofmostmushroomsissolubleinscaldingwater.Dilutevinegarisfrequentlyusedinthe same manner. Vinegar should not be used in metal vessels unlessporcelain-lined.

LISTOFTHEGENERAOFHYMENOMYCETES.

The following list of the genera of Hymenomycetes, summarized fromKellerman’sSynopsisofSaccardo’sSyllogeFungorum,willbefoundusefulforreference:

I. AGARICACEÆ.Leucosporeæ.(Sporeswhiteorslightlytintedyellowish.)

GENERA.AmanitaPers.AmanitopsisRoze.LepiotaFries.

SchulzeriaBres.ArmillariaFries.TricholomaFries.ClitocybeFries.CollybiaFries.MycenaFries.HiatulaFries.OmphaliaFries.PleurotusFries.HygrophorusFries.LactariusFries.RussulaPers.CantharellusAdans.ArrheniaFries.NyctalisFries.StylobatesFries.MarasmiusFries.HeliomycesLev.LentinusFries.PanusFries.XerotusFries.TrogiaFries.LenzitesFries.TilotusKalch.HymenogrammeB.&Mont.OudemansiellaSpeg.PterophyllusLev.RachophyllusBerk.SchizophyllumFries.

Rhodosporæ(sporespinkorsalmoncolor),correspondingtotheHyporhodiiofFries.

GENERA.VolvariaFr.AnnulariaSchulz.PluteusFries.EntolomaFries.ClitopilusFries.LeptoniaFries.NolaneaFries.EcciliaFries.ClaudopusWorth.Smith.

Ochrosporæ(sporestawnyochraceous,orlightrustytintofbrown),

correspondingtotheDerminiofFries.GENERA.

PholiotaFries.LocillinaGill.InocybeFries.HebelomaFries.FlammulaFries.NaucoriaFries.PluteolusFries.GaleraFries.TubariaWorth.Smith.CrepidotusFries.CortinariusFries.PaxillusFries.

Melanosporæ(sporesblack,dark-brownorpurplish-brown),combiningtheattributesofboththeCoprinariiandthePratelliofFries.

GENERA.ChitoniaFries.AgaricusLinn.PilosaceFries.StrophariaFries.HypholomaFries.PsilocybeFries.DeconicaWorth.Smith.PsathyraFries.BolbitiusFries.CoprinusPers.PanæolusFries.AnnellariaKarsh.PsathyrellaFries.GomphidiusFries.AnthracophyllumCes.MontagnitesFries.

II. POLYPORACEÆ(Polyporei).GENERA.

BoletusDill.StrobilomycesBerkeley.BoletinusKalchbr.GyrodonOpatowski.FistulinaBull.PolyporusMich.

FomesFries.PolystictusFries.PoriaPers.TrametesFries.HexagoniaFries.DædaleaPers.MyriadoporusPeck.CeriomycesCorda.BresadoliaSpeg.CyclomycesKunz.FavolusFries.GlœoporusMont.LaschiaFries.MeruliusHall.TheleporusFries.PorotheliumFries.SoleniaHoffm.

III. HYDNACEÆ(Hydnei).GENERA.

HydnumLinn.CaldesiellaLace.HericiumPers.TremellodonPers.SistotremaPers.IrpexFries.RadulumFries.PlebiaFries.LophariaK.&M.Ow.GrandiniaFries.GrammotheleB.&C.OdontiaPers.KneiffiaFries.MucronellaFries.

IV. THELEPHORACEÆ(Thelephorei).GENERA.

CraterellusFries.HypolyssusPers.ThelephoraEhrh.CladoderrisPers.BeccariellaCes.StereumPers.HymenochæteLev.

SkepperiaBerk.CorticiumFries.PeniophoraCooke.ConiophoraD.C.MicheneraB.&C.MatulaMass.HypochnusFries.ExobasidiumWeron.HelicobasidiumPat.CyphellaFries.FriesulaSpeg.CoraFries.RhipidonemaMatt.

V. CLAVARIACEÆ(Clavariei).GENERA.

SparassisFries.AcartisFries.ClavariaVaill.CaloceraFries.LachnocladiumLev.PterulaFries.PtifulaPers.PistallariaFries.PhysalacriaPeck.

VI. TREMELLACEÆ(Tremellini)GENERA.

AuriculariaBull.HirneolaFries.PlatyglœaSchroet.ExidiaFries.UlocollaBref.CraterocollaBref.FemsjoniaFries.TremellaDill.NæmateliaFries.GyrocephalusPers.DelortiaPat.&Gail.ArrhytidiaBerk.CeraceaCragin.GuepiniaFries.DacryomitraPul.CollyriaFries.

GENERAMINUSCERTA.HormonycesBon.DitiolaFries.ApyreniumFries.

BREFIELD’SCLASSIFICATIONOFFUNGI.

A system of classification of fungi which is receiving attention frommycologistsisthatrecentlypresentedbythedistinguishedGermanauthorDr.OscarBrefield.Dr.Brefield’sexhaustiveinvestigationsintothelife-historyoffungi in general have been such as to entitle his views to consideration,although the system presents some inconsistencies which may prevent itsadoptioninitsentirety.

According to theBrefield system, as summarized by his colleagueDr.VonTavel,Fungiaredivided into twoprimaryclasses: (1) thePhycomycetes,orlower fungi nearest like the algæ, consisting of a one-celled thallus withsexualaswellasnon-sexualmodesofreproduction,and(2)theMesomycetesand theMycomycetes,havingadividedormanycelled thallus,propagatedby non-sexually formed spores. The Phycomycetes are further divided intotwo large sections, based on their methods of reproduction, termed,respectively, Zygomycetes and Oomycetes. These include the old typicalMucors, the Peronosporeæ or “rotting moulds,” once classed with theHyphomycetes, the Saprolegniaceæ, “Fish Moulds,” of aquatic habit, theEntomophthoraceæ,“InsectMoulds,”togetherwithsomeminorgroups.TheMesomycetes connect the Phycomycetes with theMycomycetes. The classMycomycetes isprimarilydivided into two sections,viz.,Ascomycetes andBasidiomycetes, with the Ustilagineæ, “Smut Fungi,” in Mesomycetes,forminga transitionalgroupbetweenPhycomycetesand theBasidiomycetalgroupofthehigherfungi.

The Ascomycetes are primarily subdivided into Exoasci and Carpoasci,groupsbasedon the character of the asci. In the first,Exoasci, the asci arenakedandbornedirectlyonthemycelium;inthesecond,Carpoasci,theyareenclosedinawrappercomposedoffertilehyphæandsterilethreads,havingalsoaccessoryfruitforms.ThefirstincludesEndomycetesandTaphrineæ.InthesecondareincludedthegroupsGymnoasci,Perisporaceæ,Pyrenomycetes,

Hysteriaceæ,Discomycetes,andHelvellaceæ.

TheBasidiomycetescharacterizedby thepossessionofbasidiaarearrangedin two groups, based on the character of the basidia: (1) theProtobasidiomycetes, in which the basidia are septate, divided, and (2) theAutobasidiomycetes,inwhichthebasidiaarenotdivided,andbearadefinitenumberofspores.

The first of these (Protobasidiomycetes) includes the following distinctgroups: (1) the Uredineæ, “Rust Fungi,” which have horizontally dividedbasidia, always free, never enclosed; (2) the Auricularieæ, having basidiasomewhat resembling those of the Uredineæ, but which are borne in fruitbodieswithopenhymenia;(3)Pileacreæ,havinghorizontalseptatebasidiainclosed receptacles; and (4) Tremellineæ, having vertically divided basidiaborneingymnocarpousreceptacles—thatis,thoseinwhichthehymeniumisexposedwhilethesporesaregrowing.

The Autobasidiomycetes are characterized by undivided basidia, bearingspores only at the apex. This group is subdivided into three sections: (1)Dacryomycetes, which includes the lowest of the Tremelloid forms, withclub-shaped basidia, nearly approaching the true Hymenomycetal type,together with several groups ofminor import; (2) Gasteromycetes; and (3)Hymenomycetes, with Phalloideæ placed in the group as a subsection ofGasteromycetes.

The above canonlybe considered as a verybrief abstract of the systemofclassificationproposedbyDr.Brefield,butitwillservetogivesomeideaoftheprincipleonwhichthesystemisbased,whichissufficientforourpresentpurpose.Thosewhowishtostudythesystemindetailwillfindittreatedinacomprehensive manner in Dr. Von Tavel’s summary as it appears in theVergleichendeMorphologiederPilze,Jena,1892.

CONIOMYCETESANDHYPHOMYCETES.

In the original classification of Fries two of the primary divisions of thesporiferous Fungi were termed, respectively, Coniomycetes andHyphomycetes. This arrangement was accepted by Berkeley, the termConiomycetesbeingappliedtoallfungiinwhichthenakedspores,appearing

likeanimpalpabledust,weretheprincipalfeatureoftheplant,andthetermHyphomycetestofungiinwhichthethreadsorhyphæbearingthesporeswerethemostconspicuousfeature.

Coniomycetes, asbroadly interpretedbyBerkeley andothermycologists ofhis day, included the Uredineæ or “rust fungi,” the Ustilagines or “smutfungi,”theSphæropsideæ,andtheMelanconieæ.Thisarrangementwasveryunsatisfactory on account of the distinctively different character of themethodsof reproductionof the respectivegroups,and theyhavesincebeendisassociated and by some authors ranked as distinct orders or families.Others combine Uredinei and Ustilaginei in one group under the nameHypodermei.

FamiliarexamplesofUredineiareseenintherustoftheBarberryleaf,etc.,andoftheUstilagineiinthe“smut”ofcornandthe“bunt”ofwheat.

Some authors combine the Sphæropsideæ with the closely alliedMelanconieæ. M. C. Cooke contends that the Sphæropsideæ should beconsidered apart from theMelanconieæ, on the fundamental basis that theformerpossessadistinctperithecium,whilethelatterdonot.

TheSphæropsideæ as recently definedbyCooke are “Fungipossessedof aperithecium, but without asci, … sporules or stylospores being producedinternallyat theapexofmoreor lessdistinctsupportinghyphæorpedicels,termedsporophores.”

The Sphæropsideæ somewhat resemble the Pyrenomyceteæ in externalcharacteristics, but differ from them in the absence of asci and paraphyses.Saccardo retains all the species in his Sylloge, but relegates them to aninferiorpositionasimperfectfungi.

The group Pyrenomycetes, or Sphæriacei, as at first recognized by Fries,included not only the Sphæriacei and the Perisporacei, but also theSphæropsidei and Melanconiaceæ. Later, when ascigerous fungi wereseparated from stylosporous fungi, this group was revised, the ascigerousspecies only being retained. As at present limited, the Pyrenomycetes are“ascigerousfungihavingthefructificationenclosedwithinaperithecium.”

They constitute a very large group, the described species, according toCooke’sCensusofFungi,numberingnot less than10,500,orat least1,000more than all the recorded species of Hymenomycetes. The plants aremicroscopicinsize,andgrowuponvegetableoranimalsubstances.

HYPHOMYCETES.With regard to the Hyphomycetes, Cooke takes the ground that in theirinternal relations toeachother, and theirexternal relations to the remainingorders,theHyphomycetesareundoubtedlyawell-definedandnaturalgroup,and should have place as such in a systematic work. It is a large order,containing nearly 5,000 species, mostly parasitic on dead animals andvegetablematter.Thespores,termedconidia,arefree,asinHymenomycetes.The speciesaremicroscopic in size, and thehyphæare stronglydeveloped.They have no hymenium and no true basidia, and are non-sexual in theirreproduction.

The four primary sections are the Mucedineæ, or “white moulds;” theDematieæ, or “black moulds;” the Stilbea, with the hyphæ or thread-likefilamentspallidorbrown,anddenselycohering,andtheTubercularieæ,withthe hyphædensely compacted inwart-like pustules of somewhat gelatinousconsistency.

The divisions called Melanconieæ, Sphæropsideæ, and Hyphomyceteæ arenot recognized in the Brefield system of classification as distinct groups.Massee andCooke,withothermycologists, take exception to this omissionand its implication, in their discussion of the subject, giving consistentreasonsfortheretentionofthesegroupsinsystematicworks.

PHYCOMYCETESORPHYSOMYCETES.

AsoriginallydefinedbyBerkeley,thisgroupwascomposedchieflyoftheoldtypicalMucors and their allies, andwas then termed Physomycetes. In thenewersystemofclassificationitsoriginaldefinitionhasbeenextendedsoasto include a number of groups somewhat dissimilar in their habits andcharacteristics, but “united under the conservating bond of a dimorphicreproduction,” and the name has been changed to Phycomycetes. As atpresent recognized “the Phycomycetes are characterized by a unicellularmycelium, often parasitic on plants or animals, sometimes saprophytic,

developed in the air or inwater. Reproduction sexual or asexual.”As thusinterpreted, Phycomycetes includes theMucoracei; the Peronosporaceæ, or“rottingmoulds;”theCystopi,or“whiterusts;”theSaprolegniaceæ,or“fishmoulds;” the Entomophthoraceæ, or “insect moulds,” together with a fewminorgroupsofdoubtfulnaturalaffinity.

BIBLIOGRAPHY.Saccardo,P.A. “SyllogeSphæropsidearumetMelanconiearum,” inSyllogeFungorum.Vol.iii.Imp.8vo.Padua,1884.

L. A. Crie. Recherches sur les Pyrenomycetes inferieurs du group deDepazées.8vo.Paris,1878.

J.C.Corda.IconesFungorum.Fol.6vol.Prague,1837-‘54.

Bonorden. Zur Kenntniss der Coniomyceten u. Cryptomyceten. 4to. Halle,1860.

M.C.Cooke.TheHyphomycetousFungioftheUnitedStates.8vo.1877.

P.A.Saccardo.SyllogeFungorum.Vol.iv.—“Hyphomyceteæ.”Padua,1886.

DeToni,J.B.“SyllogeUstilaginearumetUredinearum,”inSaccardo,SyllogeFungorum.Imp.8vo.Vol.vii,pt.ii.Padua,1888.

Geo.WinterinRabenhorst’sKryptogamenFloraderPilze.8vo.Cuts.1884.

Geo. Massee. British Fungi—Phycomycetes and Ustilagineæ. 8vo. Cuts.London,1891.

O.Brefield.Bot.Untersuch.ü.Hefenpilze.Leipzig,1883.

Tulasne.“MemoiresurlesUstilaginéescomparéesauxUredinées.”Ann.desSci.Nat.,3dseries,vol.vii.Paris,1847.

M.Woronin.BeitragzurKenntnissderUstilagineen.1882.

M.C.Cooke.Rust, Smut,Mildew, andMould. 12mo.Col. plates.London,1870.

C.B.Plowright.AMonographoftheBritishUredineæandUstilagineæ.8vo.London,1889.

W. C. Smith.Diseases of Field and Garden Crops. 12mo. Cuts. London,1884.

D.D.Cunningham.ConidialFructificationintheMucorini.

R.Thaxter.“TheEntomophthoreæoftheUnitedStates.”MemoirsofBostonSocietyofNaturalHistory.Vol.iv,4to.Plates.1888.

L.Mangin.SurleStructuredesPeronosporées.Paris,1890.

K.Lindstedt.Synopsisd.Saprolegniaceen.8vo.Fourplates.Berlin,1872.

M.Cornu.“MonographiedesSaprolegniées.”Ann.desSci.Nat.,5thseries.Vol.xv.Paris,1872.

M.C.Cooke.SynopsisPyrenomycetum.2parts.8vo.London,1884-‘86.

A. de Zaczewski. “Classification naturelle des Pyrenomycetes.” Bull. Soc.Myc.deFrance,vol.x.1894.

J.B.EllisandB.M.Everhart.TheNorthAmericanPyrenomycetes.

M.C. Cooke.Mycographia, vol. i. “Discomycetes.” Col. plates. Imp. 8vo.London,1879.

W. Phillips. A Manual of British Discomycetes. Im. 8vo. Plates. London,1887.

P. A. Saccardo. “Sylloge Discomycetum,” in Sylloge Fungorum. Vol. viii.Padua,1889.

R.Hartig.TextBookofDiseasesofTrees.Roy.8vo.London,1894.

Geo. Massee. The Evolution of Plant Life, Lower Forms. 12mo. London,1891.

MarshallWard.DiseasesofPlants.12mo.Cuts.London,1884.

A. De Bary. Recherches sur le Developpement de quelques champignonsparasites.8vo.Plates.Berlin,1878-‘94.

APPENDIX.Superior,theuppersurface;appliedtotheringwhenneartheapexofthe

stem.

Tetraspore,tetraGr.four;spores.Theca,cell-mother,theprotoplasmofwhichoriginatesbysegmentation;

acertainnumberofspores,usuallyeight,heldinsuspension

intheprotoplasmofthethecawithoutbeingattachedtoeachotherortothecellwalls.

Thecaspore,thesporethusencased.Tomentose,downy,withshorthairs.Torsive,spirallytwisted.Torulose,acylindricalbodyswollenandrestrictedalternately.Toxic,poisonous.Trama,thesubstanceproceedingfromthehymenophore,intermediate

betweentheplates(centralin)ofthegillsofagarics.Transverse,crosswise.Tremelloid,jelly-like.Truncate,endingabruptly,asifcutshort;cutsquarelyoff.Tubæform,trumpet-shaped.Tubercle,asmallwart-likeexcrescence.Tubular,hollowandcylindrical.Turbinate,top-shaped.Typical,agreeingcloselywiththecharactersassignedtoagroupor

species.

Umbilicate,havingacentraldepression.Umbo,thebossofashield;appliedtothecentralelevationofthecapof

somemushrooms.Umbonate,havingacentralboss-likeelevation.Uncinate,hooked.Unequal,shortimperfectgillsinterspersedamongtheothers.Universal,usedinrelationtotheveilorvolvawhichentirelyenvelops

themushroomwhenyoung.

Variety,anindividualofaspeciesdifferingfromtherestinexternalform,size,color,andothersecondaryfeatures,withoutperpetuatingthesedifferencesonlyunderexceptionalcircumstances.

Veil,inmushroomsapartialcoveringofthestemormarginofthepileus.Veliform,athinveil-likecovering.Venate,Veined,intersectedbyswollenwrinklesbelowandonthesides.Ventricose,swolleninthemiddle.Vernicose,shiningasifvarnished.Verrucæ,wartsorglandularelevations.Verrucose,coveredwithwarts.Villose,villous,coveredwithlong,weakhairs.Virescent,greenish.Virgate,streaked.

Viscid,coveredwithashinyliquidwhichadherestothefingerswhentouched.

Viscous,gluey.Volute,rolledupinanydirection.Volva,asubstancecoveringthemushroom,sometimesmembranous,

sometimesgelatinous;theuniversalveil.

Walnutbrown,adeepbrownlikethatofsomevarietiesofwood.(Rawumber,andburntsiennaandwhite.)

Wart,anexcrescencefoundonthecapofsomemushrooms;theremainsofthevolvainformofirregularorpolygonalexcrescences,moreorlessadherent,numerous,andpersistent.

Zone,abroadbandencirclingamushroom.Zoned,furnishedwithoneormoreconcentriccircles.

Althoughsomewritersapplythetermsspore,sporidia,sporophore,sporules,andconidiasomewhatindiscriminatelytoallsporebodies, inordertoavoidconfusion, it is now recommended by the best authorities that certaindistinctive limitations should be adhered to in the use of these terms.Saccardo,indefiningthetermswhichheemploys,acceptsthetermsporesasapplicableexclusivelyto thenakedsporessupportedonbasidia,asfoundinthe Basidiomyceteæ. The term sporidia he limits to spores produced orenclosedinanascus,asintheAscomyceteæ.Thetermsporulesheappliestothe spores of imperfect fungi, where they are enclosed in perithecia(microscopiccupsor cells), suchas theSphæropsidea.The termconidiaheusestodesignatethesporesofimperfectfungiwithoutperitheciaorasci,suchas the Hyphomyceteæ and the Melanconieæ. This arrangement is inaccordancewithM.C.Cooke’spublishedviewsonthesubject,exceptinthecase of the spore bodies of the Melanconieæ, which he prefers, for well-definedreasons,tocallsporules.

In accordance with these limitations, the terms spermatia, stylospores, andclinosporesaremergedinsporule.

Other termsappropriate to theirdevelopmentareemployed todesignate thesporesofUredineæ,Phycomyceteæ,etc.

STUDENT’SHAND-BOOKOF

MUSHROOMSOFAMERICA

EDIBLEANDPOISONOUS.

BYTHOMASTAYLOR,M.D.AUTHOROFFOODPRODUCTS,ETC.

PublishedinSerialForm—No.4—Price,50c.pernumber.

WASHINGTON,D.C.:A.R.TAYLOR,PUBLISHER,238MASS.AVE.N.E.

1897.

Copyright,1897,byTHOMASTAYLOR,M.D.,

andA.R.TAYLOR

GASTEROMYCETES.Hymeniummoreor lesspermanentlyconcealed,consisting inmostcasesofcloselypackedcellsofwhichthefertileones(thebasidia)bearnakedspores

on distinct spicules, exposed only by the rupture or decay of the investingcoatorperidium.Berkeley’sOutlines.

ThisfamilyhasbeensubjectedtonumerousrevisionssincethedaysofFries,whenitsstructuralcharacteristicswerenotsowellunderstoodasatpresent.

Montagne and Berkeley are credited with being the first to show the truestructure of the hymenium in the puff-balls, as well as to demonstrate thepresence of basidia. This important discovery led to the correlating of theGasteromycetes with the Hymenomycetes under the common titleBasidiomycetes,bothhavingthesporesborneuponbasidia.Thetwofamiliesstillremaineddistinct,however,notonlybecauseofthedissimilarityintheirexternalfeaturesbutprincipallyonaccountofthedifferenceinthedispositionandcharacterofthehymenium.

In theHymenomycetes thehymeniumisexposed to the light fromthe first,and the spores drop from the basidia as they mature; whereas in theGasteromycetesthehymenialpulp,orgleba,consistingofthesporeswiththesupporting basidia and the hyphæ, is enclosed within the substance of thefungus,andthesporesareexposedonlyonthedecayoftheinvestingcoat.

The basidia of the Gasteromycetes, though resembling those of theHymenomycetes,aremorevariableinformandthenumberofthesporesnotsoconstant.Theyperformthesamefunctionsandbearspicules,sometimesinpairs,sometimesquaternate,eachspiculebeingsurmountedbyaspore.Theydissolveawayasthesporesmatureandcan,therefore,onlybeobservedintheveryyoungstageoftheplant.ThesporesoftheGasteromycetesareusuallycoloredand,exceptinthesubterraneanspecies,globose.Asseenthroughthemicroscopetheyhaveoftenaroughwartyappearance,sometimesspinulose.Paraphyses may be present as aborted basidia, but cystidia are rarelydistinguished.Acharacteristicofalargeproportionoftheplantsisthedryingupofthehymenialsubstance,sothatthecavityofthereceptaclebecomesatlengthfilledwithadustymasscomposedofsporesanddelicatethreads,theremainsoftheshriveledhyphæ.

The following table will serve to show the distinctive features of the fourprimarydivisionsoftheGASTEROMYCETES:

Lycoperdaceæ.—Hymeniumfugitive,dryinginadustymassofthreadsandspores,dispersedbyanopeningorbyfissuresoftheperidium.Terrestrial.

Phalloideæ.—Hymeniumdeliquescentandslimy;receptaclepileate;volvauniversal.Fœtidfleshyfungi.

Hypogæi,orHymenogastreæ.—Hymeniumpermanent,notbecomingdustyordeliquescentexceptwhendecayed.Capillitiumwanting.

Subterranean.Nidulariaceæ.—Receptaclecup-shapedorglobose;sporesproducedon

sporophoresorshortbasidiaenclosedingloboseordisciformbodies(sporangia)containedwithinadistinctperidium.Terrestrial.

ThesectionLycoperdaceæcontainsupwardsof500speciesormorethantwo-thirds of the whole number of recorded species of the Gasteromycetes.Lycoperdon,Bovista, andGeaster, itsmost conspicuous genera, are said tocontainthelargestnumberofwell-knownspecies.Afewareedible.

ThePhalloideæincludeabout90species.Theplantsareusuallyill-smellingand unwholesome. Some are stipitate, others are latticed, etc. Some areconspicuousfortheirbrightcoloring.Intheyoungstagetheyareenclosedinanegg-shapedvolvahavingagelatinousinnerstratum.

TheplantsoftheNidulariaceæareveryminute,tough,andwidelydistributed.The species Cyathus, the “bird’s-nest fungus,” is quite common in somelocalities,andisinterestingbecauseofitspeculiarform.Theindividualplantisvery small, notmore than twocentimetershigh. It resembles an invertedbell,oraminiaturewine-glass.Adelicatewhitemembranecoversthetopatfirst. This disappears as the plant matures, revealing lentil-shaped bodiespackedcloselytogetherlikeeggsinanest.Theseovalbodiesaretheperidiolacontainingthespores.Theyareusuallyfounduponrottenwoodorsticksontheground.Sixty-fivespeciesarerecorded,butnoneareedible.

The plants of the divisionHypogæi orHymenogastreæ are subterranean inhabit, preferring a sandy soil. They are usually somewhat globose in form,havingathickoutercoatorperidium,thoughinsomeofthegeneratheoutercoatisverythinorobsolete.Theyaredingyincolor.Intheyoungplantstheinteriorsubstancesomewhatresemblesthatofthetruffle,butisstreakedandmottled.Whenoldtheglebaconsistsofadustymassofthreadsandspores.Theyareknownundervariousappellations,suchas“undergroundpuff-balls,”“falsetruffles,”etc.

TheHypogæiareanalogous to theTuberacei,except that thesporesarenotcontainedinasciasinthelatter.CookesaystheyappeartobethelinkwhichunitestheBasidiomycetestotheAscomycetesbymeansoftheTuberaceiorgenuine Truffles. In the young stage the basidia in theHypogæi are easilydistinguishedbytheaidofthemicroscope.

InexternalfeaturesandhabitofgrowththespeciesofElaphomyces,agenusofTuberacei, closely resemble theHypogæi, and in old age,when theascihavedisappeared,itisdifficulttodistinguishtheplantsofthisgenusfromtheHypogæi.

ThegenusMelanogastercontainsanediblespecies,M.variegatus,Tulasne,commonly known in Europe as the “Red Truffle” or “False Truffle.” M.variegatus is usually gregarious and subterranean in habit. The exterior isminutelygranular,tawnyyelloworreddishrustcolor;theinteriorsoft,bluish-black,streakedwithyellow,thesporemassinmaturitybecomingpubescent.Theodor is pleasantly aromatic, and the taste sweet.Under trees inwoods.ThevarietyBroomeianusBerk.ispalerinthemarbling,whichshowsreddishinstead of yellow streaks. The pulpy mass is at first white, changing to ayellowish,smokyhue.

LYCOPERDACEÆANDPHALLOIDEÆ.

The plants figured in Plates G and H belong to the Lycoperdaceæ andPhalloideæ.

LYCOPERDACEÆ.

Massee,whohasgiventhePuff-Ballgroupveryclosestudy,saysthatinthegleba of the Lycoperdaceæ, “at a very early period two sets of hyphæ arepresent. One, thin-walled, colorless, septate and rich in protoplasm, givesorigin to the trama, and elements of the hymenium, and usually disappearsentirely after the formation of the spores; the second type consists of longthick-walled aseptate or sparsely septate, often colored hyphæ, which arepersistent and form the capillitium. The latter are branches of the hyphæformingthehymenium.”

GENERALYCOPERDONANDBOVISTA.

TothegeneraLycoperdonandBovistabelongmostofthe“Puff-balls”andallof the species figured in Plate G. In the plants of these two genera theperidiumismoreorlessdistinctlydouble,andthehyphæ,ordelicatethreadswhich are seen mixed with the dusty mass of spores in the mature plant,forming what is called the capillitium, are an important element inclassification.

Genus Lycoperdon Tourn. In this genus the investing coat or peridium ismembranaceous, vanishing above or becoming flaccid; bark or outer shelladnate, sub-persistent, breaking up into scales or warts; capillitium soft,dense,andattachedtotheperidium,basespongyandsterile.

Gasteromycetes.SixTypesofthe“Puff-Ball”Group.

Edible.

PLATEG.

EDIBLEPUFF-BALLS.

FIG.1.—LycoperdoncælatumFries.“CollapsingPuff-Ball.”

Peridiumflaccidabove,withmealycoating,obtuse,atlengthcollapsing,thesterile stratum cellulose. Inner peridium distinct from the outer all round;capillitium nearly free, collapsing when mature, threads long and brittle;sporesdingyolive,turningbrown;basestem-like,broadandblunt,withroot,obconical, somewhat spongy.Common in pastures and openwoods.Ediblewhenyoung,butnotmuchcommended.Plantpalecreamcolor.

FIGS.2and3.—LycoperdongemmatumBatsch.“WartedPuff-Ball,”“StuddedPuff-Ball.”

Plantsub-globular,withastem-likebase;whiteorcinereous,turningtolightgreyish-brown, the surface warty, the warts unequal, the larger onessomewhatpointed, the smallergranular.As thewarts falloff they leave thesurface of the denuded peridium somewhat dotted or slightly reticulated.Flesh, when young, firm andwhitish. The plants of this species are small,variable in form, sometimes turbinated, sometimes nearly globose, ordepressed globose, but usually the basal portion is narrower than the upperportion. The stem varies in thickness and length; sometimes it is quite

elongated,insomeinstancesabsent.Capillitiumandsporesyellowish-green,turning dark olive or brown. Columella present.When the spores are fullyripe theperidiumopensby a small apical aperture for their dispersion.Theplantsaresometimesdenselycæspitose,andcrowdtogetheronthegroundorondecayingwoodinlargepatchesafterwarmrains.Theyarefoundbothinfields and open woods during summer and autumn. They are edible whenyoung, but not specially well flavored. There are several varieties. Plantssometimesovalorlens-shaped.

In Var. hirtum the plant is turbinate, subsessile, and hairy, with slender,spinous warts. The variety papulatum is subrotund, sessile, papillose andpulverulent, thewarts beingnearly uniform in size.Plants fromone to twoinchesinheight.

FIGS.4and5.—LycoperdonpyriformeSchaeffer.“Pear-ShapedPuff-Ball.”

Plant dingy white or brownish yellow; pear-shaped, or obovate pyriforme,sometimes approaching L. gemmatum in size and shape, but easilydistinguishedfromthatspeciesbythesurfacefeaturesoftheperidiumandtheinternalhyphæ.Thepersistentwartswhichcoverthesurfaceoftheperidiumaresominuteastoappeartothenakedeyelikescales.Insomeinstancestheperidium is almost smooth, and sometimes cracks in areas, inner peridiumthin and tough. The hyphæ are thicker than the spores and branched,continuouswiththeslightlycellularbase,andformingacolumellainsidetheperidium.Sporesgreenish-yellow,thenbrownish-olive,smoothandglobose.

Theshortstem-likebaseoftheplantterminatesinfiber-likerootlets,creepingunderthesoilandbranching,thusattachinglargeclustersoftheyoungplantstogether.Theyareoftenfoundinquantityonthemossytrunksoffallentrees.

FIG.6.—LycoperdongiganteumBatsch.“GiantPuff-Ball.”

TheGiantPuff-Ball,sogenerallyneglected,isoneofthemostvaluableoftheediblemushrooms.Itisreadilydistinguishedfromotherpuff-ballsandalliedfungibyitslargesize.Itissubgloboseinform,oftenflattenedatthetopandusuallywiderthandeep.Theperidiumorrindismembranaceous,smooth,orvery slightly floccose, and creamywhite at first, turning to pale yellowish-brownwhentheplantisold.Whenyoungitisfilledwithawhite,seeminglyhomogeneous fleshy substance of pleasant flavor. This substance changes,whenmature,toanelastic,yellowishorolivaceousbrown,cottonybutdustymass of filaments and spores. The peridium is very fragile above, crackingintoareæinthematureplantandbreakingupandfallingawayinfragments,thusallowingthedispersionof thespores.Thecapillitiumandsporesareatfirst greenish-yellow, turning to dingy olive. The plants vary in size, butaveragefromtentotwentyinchesindiameter.InthecolumnsoftheCountry

Gentlemansomeyearsagothereappearedadescriptionofapuff-ballofthisspecieswhichweighed forty seven pounds andmeasured a little over eightfeet incircumference. Itwas found ina low,moist cornerof apublicpark.Specimens weighing from twenty to thirty pounds are recorded as beingfound in different parts of the country; but specimens of such largedimensions are unusual. This species is found inmany parts of theUnitedStates.ItistheL.bovistaofLinn.Sacc.

A correspondent writes that he has found the giant puff-ball in greatabundance growing on the Genessee Flats, Livingstone Co., New York.AnotherwritesfromNebraskathatitisquiteabundantontheprairiesthereinsummer.AthirdwritesfromMissouri,“Sincethelaterainswehavehadpuff-ballsinabundance,andfindthemdeliciousmadeintofritters.”

Thepuff-ballsshouldbegatheredyoung.Ifthesubstancewithiniswhiteandpulpy,itisingoodconditionforcooking,butifmarkedwithyellowstainsitshouldberejected.

Vittadinisays:

“Whenthegiantpuff-ball isconvenientlysituatedyoushouldonly takeonesliceat a time, cutting ithorizontallyandusinggreat carenot todisturb itsgrowth, to prevent decay, and thus onemay have a fritter every day for aweek.”

Differentauthorswritewithenthusiasmofthemeritsofthegiantpuff-ballasanesculent.

Mrs.Hussey, anEnglish botanist, gives the following receipt for “puff-ballomelet:”

First,removetheouterskin;cutinsliceshalfaninchthick;havereadysomechopped herbs, pepper, and salt; dip the slices in the yolk of an egg, andsprinkletheherbsuponthem;fryinfreshbutter,andeatimmediately.

Ihavetestedfinespecimensofthegiantpuff-ballgatheredinthepublicparksofWashington,D.C.,findingitdeliciouseatingwhenfriedinbatter.

FIGS.7and8.—LycoperdoncyathiformeBose.“Cup-shapedPuff-Ball.”

Synonyms—L.fragileVitt.L.albopurpureumFrost.

Plant nearly globose, with a short, thick, stem-like base, color varying,cinereous,brown,tingedwithviolet.

Rind or peridium smooth, or minutely floccose, scaly in the mature plant,crackingintosomewhatangularareas,theupperportionfinallyfallingawayin fragments, leavingawidecup-shapedbase,with irregularmargin,whichremains long after the dispersion of the spores and capillitium. This basal

portion is often tinged with the purplish hue of the spores. Spores rough,purplish-brown.Capillitiumsamecolorasthespores.

LycoperdoncyathiformeisamorecommonspeciesthanL.giganteum,andisdeemedquiteequaltothelatterinflavor.Theplantsareofgoodsize,beingfrom4to10inchesindiameter.

They are frequently found in open fields and grassy places after electricstorms. When sliced and fried in egg batter, they taste much like thegiganteumorgiantpuff-ball.

A puff-ball which is not inferior to either of the two last-named species,thoughnotaslarge,andperhapsnotasabundantaseither,istheLycoperdonsaccatumofFries,sometimescalled the“Long-stemmedpuff-ball,”becauseofitselongatedstem.

Theplantsofthisspeciesareattractiveinappearance,usuallyhemispherical,or lentiform in shape,with cylindrical stem-like base. The peridium is thinanddelicate,breakingintofragments;creamywhite in theyoungstage,andclothed with delicate warts, so minute as to give the surface a soft mealyappearance, the under surface somewhat plicate. Capillitium sub-persistentanddense.Bothsporesandcapillitiumbrown.

LYCOPERDACEÆ.

Genus Bovista Dill. Peridium papery (or sometimes corky), persistent; theouterrind,sometimescalledthebark,quitedistinctfromtheinner,atlengthshelling off. Capillitium sub-compact, equal, adnate to the peridium on allsides;sporespedicillate,brownish.

FIGS.9and10.—BovistaplumbeaPers.Lead-ColoredBovista.

Plantsmall,spherical,havingadoubleshellorperidium,theinneronewhiteandtheouteronesmoothandgreyishlead-colororbluish-grey,andshellingoff at maturity. When young the interior is filled with a creamy whitesubstance. This soon begins to disintegrate, and, as the spores mature,changes to amassofdustybrown spores and threads.When the spores arereadyfordisseminationasmallapertureappears in the topof theperidium,throughwhichtheypushtheirwayoutwardslikealittlepuffofsmoke.

When young, and while the flesh is white throughout, the plant is edible,although so small that it would take a quantity tomake a good dish. It isfound chiefly in pastures in the autumn. Sometimes found growing incompanywithAgaricuscampestris.Ofpleasantflavorwhenyoung.

Fig.11.BasidiumandsporesofaLycoperdonhighlymagnified.

AnEnglishauthorstates that inflammationof thethroatandswellingof the

tonguehavebeenknown toensue fromeatingsomeof thesmall speciesofLycoperdonintherawstate.Itwouldbeawiseprecaution,therefore,tocookallofthesmallerspecieswellbeforeeating.

The genus Scleroderma is allied to Lycoperdon, but differs from it in theabsenceofacapillitium,andinthethickindehiscentouterskin,orperidium,whichburstsirregularlyonthematurityofthespore-mass,theflocciadheringonallsidestotheperidiumandformingdistinctveinsinthecentralmass.

The species Scleroderma vulgare is very common in woods, and hassometimes been mistaken for a form of Truffle. The plants are not veryattractive, and the odor is rank. They are subsessile and irregular in shape,withahardouterskin,thelargerformofayellowishorgreenishbrownhue,andcoveredwithlargewartsorscales,thesmallerveryminutelywarty,andofadarkerbrownhue.The internalmass isofabluish-blackhue, threadedthrough with white or greyish flocci. Spores dingy. The interior becomespulverulentwhentheplantmatures.Thisspecieshasbeeneateninitsyoungstatewhen cooked, but the flavor is bynomeans equal to that of the largepuff-balls. It is sometimes attacked by a fungus larger than itself, calledBoletus parasiticus, and this parasite is again attacked by a species ofHypomyces,oneofthegeneraofthePyrenomycetes,whichgrowsinpatchesupondeadfungi.

PHALLOIDEÆORPHALLACEÆ.

ThePhalloideæ,sometimescalledthe“Stink-horn”fungionaccountoftheirfœtidodor, arenotnumerous, thewholenumberofdescribed speciesbeingabouteighty.Theplantsarewatery,quickingrowth,anddecayveryrapidly.Theyarevariedinformandarequiteunliketheordinarymushroomtypes.Insomeofthegeneratheplantsarecolumnarandphalloid,inotherclathrateorlatticed,inothersagainthediskisstellate,andinonegenusitiscoralloid,buttheyareallenclosed,intheearlystage,inavolvawhichisatfirsthiddenorpartially hidden beneath the surface of the ground. A gelatinous stratum iscontainedwithinthefirmeroutsidemembrane.

GenusIthyphallus.Inthisgenusthecapisperforatedatthetop,freefromthestemandreticulate.Noveil.Thematureplantsarecolumnarinformwiththeremainsofthevolvaenclosingthecolumn-likestematthebase;thecapinitsdeeplypitted reticulations somewhat resembling thatof theMorel,althoughofdifferenttexture.

Gasteromycetes.Phalloideæ.

Figs.1to6,Ithyphallusimpudicus,Linn.“FœtidMushroom.”Fig.7,Clathruscancellatus,Fr.“LatticedMushroom.”

Unwholesome.

PLATEH.

FIGS.1to6.—IthyphallusimpudicusLinn.“FœtidWoodWitch.”

Intheembryonicstagetheplantisenclosedinavolvawhichiscomposedofthreelayers,theouteronefirm,theintermediateonegelatinous,andtheinneroneconsistingofathinmembrane.Thegleba,orspore-bearingportion,intheearly stage forms a conical honeycombed cap within the inner shell ormembrane,concealingthestemtowhichitisattached.Thestematthisstageisveryshort,cylindrical,andcomposedofsmallcellsfilledwithagelatinoussubstance.Thevolvaisaboutthesizeofahen’segg.Onmaturityitrupturesat theapex.Thestemrapidlyexpandsand,elongating,elevates thecap intothe air. The stem becomes open and spongy, owing to the drying of thegelatinousmatteranditsquickexpansion.

Thewholeplantattainsaheightoffromfourtoteninchesinafewhours.Thehymenialsurfaceisontheoutsideofthecap,thesporesbeingembeddedinitsglutinouscoatedridgesanddepressions.Thehymeniumisatfirstfirmbutrapidlydeliquesces,holdingthesporesintheliquidmass.Thecapisgreenishorgreenish-grayincolor,changingtoadarkbottle-green.Initsdeliquescentstate theodor is very repulsive.While enclosed in thevolva theunpleasant

odor is not so perceptible, and it has been eaten in that condition withoutunpleasanteffects,butinitsmaturestageitisconsideredunwholesome,andcertainly its offensive odorwould be quite sufficient to determost personsfromattempting to test its ediblequalities.Flies,however, arevery fondofthe fluid,andconsume itgreedilyandwith impunity. It is found ingardensandwoods, its presence being detected several rods away by the offensiveodor.Specimensoccurinwhichthecolorofthecapiswhiteorreddish.

In thealliedgenusMutinus thepileus is adnateand isnotperforatedat theapex.Mutinuscaninusresemblesimpudicusinform,butthecapiscontinuouswith,notfreefromthestem,andiscrimsonincolor,coveredwithagreenish-brown,odorlessmucus.Thestemishollow,whitish,tintedwithapaleyellowororangecolor.Notcommon.

GenusClathrusMich.Inthisgenusthereceptacleissessile,andformedofanobovate globular net-work. At first wholly enclosed in a volva whichbecomestornattheapexandfallsaway,leavingacalyx-likebaseatitspointofcontactwiththestem.

FIG.7.—ClathruscancellatusTourn.

UNWHOLESOME.

Receptacle bright vermillion or orange red, covered at firstwith a greenishmucuswhichholdsthecolorlessspores.Volvawhiteorpalefawncolor.Odorstronglyfœtid.

MYXOMYCETESORMYXOGASTERS.—”SlimeFungi.”IntheirearlyhistorytheMyxomycetes,or“slimemoulds,”wereclassedwiththe gasteromycetal fungi, and by Fries grouped as a sub-order of theGasteromycetes, under the name Myxogasters. From this connection theywere severed in1833byLink,who, recognizingcertaindistinctive featureswhichentitledthemtoconsiderationasanentirelyseparategroup,rankedtheMyxogasters,asaseparateorder,underthetitleMyxomycetes,Slimemoulds.DeBary,inamonographonthesubjectwrittensomeyearslater,questionedtherightofthisgrouptotheplaceassigneditinthevegetableworld,claimingthattheMyxogasterswereasnearlyrelatedtotheanimalastothevegetablekingdom,andchangingthenametoMycetozoa.Masseeassailedthisposition

inhis“MonographoftheMyxogasters,”pointingoutthatDeBaryderivedhisreasons and deductions from the early or vegetative stage of the fungi,without taking sufficiently into account the characteristics of the later orreproductivestageinwhichthegreatdisparitybetweentheseorganismsandthoseoftheloweranimalsbecomesapparent.

Dr.Rostafinski, thePolishbotanist, andpupil ofDeBary, adopts thenamegiven the group by De Bary, but applies it in a more restricted sense,classifyingonabotanicalbasis.BothDeBaryandMasseehavetheirearnestdisciples.M.C.CooketakesthegroundthattheMyxomycetesareentitledtomention as “fungi which produce their fructification enclosed within aperidium,”althoughconsideringthemasanaberrantgroupwhich,onaccountofcertainpeculiaritiesoftheirearlyorvegetativestage,shouldnolongerbeclassedashavingaffinitywithGasteromycetes.Withoutfurtherdiscussionofthesubject, it issufficient,forourpresentpurpose, tostatethatmycologistsnowvery generally agree in regarding this group as quite distinct from theGasteromycetes.

The species are minute, rarely exceeding a millimeter in diameter, at firstpulpy, then dry. In the early or vegetative stage the “slime mould” isplasmoidal,consistingofamassofprotoplasmwithoutcellwall,andprefersdampsurfaces,suchasrottingleaves,moistlogs,etc.Thewholesubstanceisslipperyorslimyandpresentsdifferenthues,red,orange,violet,brown,etc.,accordingtospecies,butnevergreen.Itisinthereproductiveorfruitingstagethat their resemblance tomicroscopic puff-balls appears, the sporangium inmanyspeciesexhibitingadistinctperidiumoroutercoatwhichenclosesthespores together with the hair-like threads called the capillitium. On theripening of the spores this peridium ruptures, allowing their escape, thecapillitiumlendingvaluableaidintheirdissemination.

GENERAOFGASTEROMYCETES,

ACCORDINGTOSACCARDO.I. PHALLACEÆ,ORPHALLOIDEÆ.

Dictyophora,Desvaugh.Ithyphallus,Fr.

Mutinus,Fr.Kalchbrennera,Berk.Simblum,Klotzsch.Clathrus,Mich.Colus,Cav.&Sech.Lysurus,Fr.Anthurus,Kalchbr.Calathiscus,Mont.Aseroë,LaBill.Staurophallus.(?)

II. NIDULARIACEÆ.Nidularia,Fr.&Nordh.Cyathus,Hall.Crucibulum,Tul.Thelebolus,Tode.Dacryobolus,Fr.Sphærobolus,Tode.Polyangium,Link.}Generadelenda.Atractobolus,Tode.

III. LYCOPERDACEÆ.Gyrophragmium,Mont.Secotium,Kunze.Polyplocium,Berk.Cycloderma,Klotzsch.Mesophellia,Berk.Cauloglossum,Grev.Podaxon(Desv.)Fr.Sphæriceps,Welw.&Curr.Tylostoma,Pers.Queletia,Fr.Battarrea,Pers.Husseya,Berk.Mitremyces,Nees.Geaster,Mich.Diplocystis,B.&C.Diploderma,Link.Trichaster,Czern.Broomeja,Berk.Coilomyces,B.&C.Lanophila,Fr.Eriosphæra,Reich.

Bovista,Dill.Calvatia,Fr.Lycoperdon,Tourn.Hippoperdon,Mont.Scleroderma,Pers.Castoreum,C.&M.Xylopodium,Mont.Areolaria,Forquigu.Phellorina,Berk.Favillea,Fr.Polygaster,Fr.Polysaccum,D.C.Testicularia,Klotzsch.Arachnion,Schw.Scoleciocarpus,Berk.Paurocotylis,Berk.

IV. HYMENOGASTRACEÆ(HYPOGÆI).Hysterangium,Vitt.Octaviania,Vitt.Rhizopagon,Fr.Melanogaster,Corda.Hymenogaster,Vitt.Hydnangium,Walk.Gautieria,Vitt.Macowanites,Kalchbr.

BIBLIOGRAPHY.E.Fischer,etc.“Gasteromycetæ,”Saccardo,SyllogeFungorum.Vol.vii,parti.Padua,1888.

Chas.H.Peck.“UnitedStatesspeciesofLycoperdon.”

Geo.Massee.“MonographoftheBritishGasteromycetes.”AnnalsofBotany,Nov.,1889.“MonographoftheGenusLycoperdon”inJournalRoyalMicro.Soc.London,1887.

C.Bambeke.MorphologieduPhallusimpudicus.Gand,1889.

A.P.Morgan.“NorthAmericanGeasters”inAmericanNaturalist.Roy.8vo.

1887.

L.andC.Tulasne.“Essaid’uneMonographiedesNidulariees.”Ann.desSci.Nat.8vo.Paris,1844.

M.C.Cooke.TheMyxomycetesofGreatBritain.Plates.8vo.London,1877.TheMyxomycetesoftheUnitedStates,bythesameauthor.NewYork,1877.

Geo. Massee. A Monograph of the Myxogasters. Col. plates. Roy. 8vo.London,1892.

A.DeBary.“DieMycetozoon”(Schleimpilz).Plates.8vo.Leipzig,1864.

J.Rostafinski.Sluzowce,MycetozoaMonografia.Plates.4to.Paris,1875.

Geo.A.Rex.NewAmericanMyxomycetes.Proc.Acad.Nat.Sci.Phila.,partiii,Dec.16,1890,pp.436-438.

Balliet Letson. “Slime Molds.” The Ornithologist and Botanist. Vol. i.Binghamton,N.Y.,Nov.,1891,p.85.1col.

Thos.H.McBride. “TheMyxomycetes ofEastern Iowa.”Bulletin from theLaboratories ofNaturalHistory of theStateUniversity of Iowa. IowaCity,Iowa,1892.

AGARICINI.

SubgenusLepiota Fries.Veil universal and concrete,with the cuticle of thepileusbreakingupintheformofscales.Gillstypicallyfree,oftenremote,notsinuate or decurrent. Stem generally distinct from the hymenophore. Volvaabsent.Habitat terrestrial,mostly foundon rich soilor ingrassyplaces. (InSaccardo’sSylloge,Lepiotaisgivengenericrank.)

TheLepiotashaveawidegeographicaldistribution.Nolessthan225specieshavebeenrecordedasfoundindifferentpartsoftheworld.Theseareprettyevenly divided between the torrid and temperate zones. They are generallysmallerthantheAmanitas,lessfleshyandsomewhatdryandtough.Thefleshissoftandthready,notbrittle.Intheplantsofmostofthespeciesthecapisrough,thecuticlebeingbrokenupintotuftsorscales.Thesetuftsarereadilydistinguished from thewartswhichcharacterizecertain speciesofAmanita,beingformedfromthebreakingupofthecuticlewiththeconcreteveil,whilethe wart-like excrescences seen upon Amanitamuscaria, for example, arecomposed of fragments of the volva, which is always found enclosing theveryyoungplantsofthegenusAmanita.

Afewofthespeciesarecharacterizedbyasmoothcap;insomeinstancesitisgranuloseormealy.Usuallythecuticleisdry,butinafewofthespeciesitisviscid.Thestemisgenerallylongandhollow,and,beingofdifferenttexturefromthefleshofthecap,iseasilyseparatedfromit,oftenleavingadistinctsocket at the junction of stem and cap. It is sometimes smooth, sometimesfloccose. In some species it is bulbous at the base, in others not. The ringwhich encircles the stem is at first continuous with the cuticle of the cap,breaking apart with its expansion. It is sometimes movable, sometimesevanescent.

Thespeciesgenerallyareconsiderededible,orinnoxious.Nonearerecordedasdangerous.Amycophagist fromAugusta,Ga., reports, however, that themembers of a family in that vicinity were made quite ill from eating theLepiotaMorgani,agreenish-sporedspeciesofLepiota,whilehehimselfateofthesamedish,experiencingnounpleasanteffects.Ihavehadnopersonalexperiencewiththisspecies.

Two edible species of Lepiota, which are widely commended as of goodquality, andwhich are sufficiently abundant to have value as esculents, arefiguredinPlateXI.Athird,Ag.(Lepiota)cepæstipes,var.cretaceus—Lepiotacretacea,figuredinPlateXI½,isanexoticspeciesfoundingreenhouses.Itisofverydelicateflavor.

EDIBLEFigs.1to4Agaricus(Lepiota)procerus,Fries(Lepiotaprocera)

“ParasolMushroom.”Figs.5to9LepiotanaucinoidesPeck.(AgaricusnaucinusFries)

“SmoothWhiteLepiota.”T.Taylor,del.

PLATEXI.

FIGS.1to4.—Ag.(Lepiota)procerusScop.(Lepiotaprocera).“ParasolMushroom.”

EDIBLE.

Capat firstovate, thenexpanded,showingdistinctumbo,cuticle thick, tornintoevanescentscales;gillsremotefromthestem,free,white,oryellowish-white;stemlong,slender,variegatedwithbrownishscales,holloworslightlystuffed,bulbousatthebase,andbearingawell-definedthickishring,whichinthemature plant is movable. Spores white, elliptical. The color of the capvaries from a light tan or ochraceous yellow to a dark reddish-brown. Thesurface showing beneath the lacerated cuticle is of a lighter hue than thecuticle, and is silky and fibrillose, giving the cap a somewhat shaded orspottedappearance.Thefleshisdry,softandthready,white.Tasteandodorpleasant.

Capfrom3to5inchesbroad;stemfrom5to10incheshigh.

This species is commonly found in pastures and in open grassy places;sometimes in openwoods near cultivated fields, usually solitary or in verysmallclusters. It isa favoriteamongmycophagists.Lepiotaracodescloselyresembles Lepiota procera, and by some botanists the two are regarded asforms of the same species. In L. racodes the pileus is at first globose,expanded,andfinallydepressed in thecentre; thecuticle is thinandbrokenintopersistentscales; thewholeplantsmallerthanL.procera.Fleshslightlyreddishwhenbruised.Edible.Thereisalsoawhitevariety(puellaris)withafloccosesquamosecap.

PLATEXI.

FIGS.5to9.—Ag.(Lepiota)naucinusFries(LepiotanaucinoidesPeck).“SmoothWhiteLepiota.”

EDIBLE.

Capatfirstsub-globose,thencurved,thesurfacesmoothandsatinywhendry,creamywhite;gillscloseandslightlyroundedattheinnerextremitytowardsthestem,freefromthestem,white;stemwhite,smooth,hollow,andbulbousat the base; ring thick, distinct, movable, white. The gills, soon aftergathering,becomesuffusedwithafaintpinkishorfleshytint.Thesporesarewhite,sub-elliptical.Specimensoccurinwhichthereisaslightgranulationinthe centre of the cap, but they are rare. The variety squamosa shows thesurfaceofthecap,somewhatbrokenintothickscales.

L. naucinoides is a very clean and attractive looking mushroom, usuallysymmetricalinshape.ItisafleshiermushroomthanL.procera,andisfoundingrassyplaces,inlawns,sometimesingardens,orbyroadsides,especiallywherethesoilisrich.ThespecimensfiguredinPlateXIweregathered inarose garden, growing in loamy soil. Specimens have been received fromdifferentStates,someofthemmuchlargerthanthosehereillustrated.

ThismushroomisrecordedbysomeauthorsasequalinflavortotheParasolmushroom.Whenstewedwithbutteritmakesaveryappetizingdish.

Thereisafatallypoisonousmushroomtowhichitbearssomeresemblance,andwhichmightbetakenforit,viz.,Amanitaverna,or“Springmushroom.”It is therefore necessary, in order to guard against such a mistake, to giveparticular attention to the characteristicsof these twomushrooms.Theyarebothwhitethroughout,andbothhavewhitesporesandringedstem.Amanitaverna,however,carriesawhitevolvaorcup-shapedsheathatthebaseofthestem,andthegillsdonotshowapinkishorfleshcoloredtingeatanystage.InLepiotanaucinoides,asinalltheLepiotas,thevolvaiswanting.Amanitaverna is apt to be moist and clammy to the touch, and is tasteless. L.naucinoides is dry, and has a pleasant flavor. The first is foundwholly in

woods; thesecondpreferspastures,opengrassyplaces,andgardens,thoughsometimes found in lightwoods. Ihavenever foundanAmanita ina lawn,pasture,orgarden.

Anediblemushroom,Agaricus(Psalliota)cretaceus,foundinpastures,bearsaslightresemblancetoL.naucinoides,whenthecolorofthesporesandgillsarenot takenintoconsideration. In theformer thegillsveryquicklychangefromtheirearlystageofrosypinktoadarkpurplish-browncolor,likethatofthe common mushroom. The spores are purplish-brown, while in L.naucinoides thepinkishhuewhich tinges the fadingplant isvery faint, andchanges toavery light tancolorwithage.Thesporesbeingwhite, thegillsretaintheirwhitecolorforalongtime,neverchangingtodarkbrown.

L.AmericanaPk.A.&S.,L.excoriataSchaeff.,andL.rubrotinctaPk.havebeentestedandareofgoodflavor.

L. Americana has a reddish or reddish-brown cap, umbonate, with closeadpressedscalesandwhiteflesh.Thegillsarebroadandfreefromthestem,sometimesanastomosingnearit,white;stemwhite,hollow,taperingtowardsthecap,annulate.Whendriedthewholeplanthasabrownish-redhue.Whencut or bruised it sometimes exudes a reddish juice. Miss Banning reportsspecimensfoundinDruidHillPark,Baltimore.IhavegatheredverybeautifulspecimensinMontgomerycounty,Md.Thismushroomsometimesgrowstoaverylargesize.

L.excoriatahasapalefawn-coloredcap,slightlyumbonate,withthincuticle,breakingintoscales;gillsremote,white;stemwhite,hollow,andshort,nearlycylindrical.Odorfaint,pleasant.

L. rubrotincta Pk. “Red-tinted Agaric.” Cap reddish or pinkish, broadlyumbonate and clothedwith adpressed scales; gills whitish, free, and close;stem nearly equal or slightly thickened at the base, with a well-developedpersistentwhiteorpinkishring.Sporeswhite,sub-elliptical.

L.holosericeusFrieshasafleshywhitecap,soft,silky,andfibrillose,asolidbulbousstem,withpersistentbroad,reflexedring,andfreeventricose,whitegills.Edible.Itisfoundingardensandcultivatedplaces.

L.acutesquamosaWein,foundingreenhousesandsoilingardens,isaheavybutnotverytallspecies.Thecapisobtuse,andfleshy,atfirstfloccose.Asthecapexpandsitbristleswitherectpointedtuftsorscales.Thegillsarewhiteoryellowish, lanceolate and simple, free from the stem. Stem bulbous,somewhat stuffed, rough or silky below the ring, and downy above. Ringpersistent.Colorofcapwhitishorlightbrown,withdarkerscales.

L.granulosus Batsch. Cap thin, wrinkled or corrugated, granulose, mealy;

gillswhite,reachingthestem,sometimesfree.Plantsverysmallandvaryingincolor—pink,yellow,andwhite,accordingtovariety.

L.amiantha. Plants very small, ochraceous in color,with yellow flesh andwhitegillsadnateandcrowded.

L.cepæstipesSow.Capthin,broad,sub-membranaceous,broadlyumbonate,adornedwithmealyevanescentscales,marginirregular;gillswhite,atlengthremote.Stemhollowandfloccose,narrowattop,ventricose;ringevanescent.Generally found inhothouses.Cap1 to3 inchesbroad.Stem3 to6 incheshigh.Sporeswhite.

L.cristataisacommonspeciesfoundonlawnsandinfieldswherethegrassisshort.Theplantsaresmall,thecapfrom½to1½inchesinwidth.Notveryfleshy.Thecuticleofthecapisatfirstcontinuousandsmoothbutsoonbreaksintoreddishscales.Thestemisfistulose,slenderandequal;gillsfree.Odorandtastesomewhatstrongandunpleasant.

Agaricus(Lepiota)cepæstipes—var.cretaceus,Peck.(Lepiotacretacea.)Edible.

FromNature.

PLATEXI½.

Ag.(Lepiota)cepæstipes,varietycretaceusPeck(Lepiotacretacea).

EDIBLE.

This very delicate and beautiful agaric is found on tan and leaves in

hothouses.

ThespecimensheredelineatedweregatheredinoneofthehothousesoftheAgricultural Department and first described and figured inFood Products,No.2,ofthereportoftheDivisionofMicroscopy.Theplantsareapurewhitethroughout, and both stem and pileus are covered with small chalk-whitemealy tufts. Berkeley says, “this species is probably of exotic origin, as itnevergrowsintheopenair.”ItisalsometwithinthehothousesofEurope.Specimens have been received from contributors who gathered them ingreenhouses in different localities. This species should not be confoundedwith the purplish-brown spored mushroom Agaricus (Psalliota) cretaceus,which has pink gills turning to dark brown and is allied to the commonmeadowmushroom.

Lepiota cretacea is a delicious mushroom when broiled, or cooked in achafing dish, and served on hot buttered toast. It has a pleasant tastewhenraw.

LepiotaMorgani Peck, the “Green-Spored Lepiota,” is an exception to thegeneraltypeofLepiotasinthecolorofitsgillsandspores.Itiswesternandsouthern in its range. This species is described by Peck in the BotanicalGazetteofMarch,1897,p.137,asfollows:“Pileusfleshy,soft,atfirstsub-globose, then expanded, or depressed, white, the brownish or alutaceouscuticlebreakingupintoscalesexceptonthedisk;lamellæclose, lanceolate,remote, white, then green; stem firm, equal, or tapering upwards, sub-bulbous, smooth,webby-stuffed,whitish, tingedwithbrown, annulus ratherlarge,movable;fleshbothofthepileusandstemwhite,changingtoreddish,and then to yellowish huewhen cut or bruised; spores ovate, sub-elliptical,mostlyuninucleate,.0004to.0005incheslong,.0003to.00032broad,sordidgreen.

“Plant6to8incheshigh,pileus5to9inchesbroad,stem6to12linesthick.Opendrygrassyplaces.Dayton,Ohio.A.P.Morgan.”

AGARICINI.

GenusCortinariusFries.Thisgenusisdistinguishedbyacob-web-likeveil,dry persistent gills, which in the mature plants become discolored, andpulverulent with the rusty or ochraceous colored spores. The veil is verydelicate,resemblingaspider’sweb.It isnotconcretewiththecuticleofthecap,butextendsfromitsmargintothestem,intheyoungplantssometimesconcealing thegills, butdisappearingas the capexpands.Sometimesa fewfilaments are seen depending from themargin of the cap or encircling thestem.

Intheyoungplantsofthisgenusthegillsvaryverymuchincolor.Theyare

whitish,clay-color,violet,darkpurple,blood-red,etc.,accordingtospecies,but,astheplantsmature,thegillsbecomedustedwiththerust-coloredfallingspores,andwithageusuallybecomearustyochraceous,orcinnamoncolor.The stem in some of the species is distinctly bulbous and in others equal,cylindrical,or tapering. In identifying thespecies it isnecessary, inorder toascertainthetruecolorofthegills,toexaminetheplantsatdifferentperiodsofgrowth.

ThegenusCortinariusisalargeone,andcontainsmanybeautifulspecies.Itis mainly confined to temperate regions. Not a single species has beenrecorded as found in Ceylon, the West Indies, or Africa, but one tropicalspeciesisfoundinBrazil.Nearlyfourhundredspecieshavebeendescribed,andoverthreehundredandseventyofthesebelongtotheUnitedStatesandEurope. A few are found in the extreme southern or temperate portion ofSouthAmerica, and several are reported froma temperate elevation amongthe Himalayas. Sweden and Great Britain, with their temperate climates,claimalargeproportionoftheEuropeanspecies.NotmanyoftheCortinariihave been recorded as edible, and none as dangerous. The Rev. M. J.Berkeley records, however, a case of poisoning by one of the species, C.(Inoloma)bolarisPers.,whichthoughnotfatalwassomewhatalarming, thesymptomsbeinggreatoppressionof thechest,profuseperspiration,and theenlargementfortwodaysofthesalivaryglandsofthepatient.Ihaveseennootherstatements relating to thepoisonouspropertiesof thisspecies,and theresultsalludedtomayhavebeenowingtosomeindividualidiosyncrasy.

Berkeley,inhis“Outlines,”givesthefollowingdescriptionofthismushroom:“Pileus fleshy, obsoletely umbonate, growing pale, variegatedwith saffron-red, adpressed, innate scales; stem stuffed, then hollow, nearly equal,squamose,ofthesamecolorasthecap;gillssubdecurrent,crowded,watery,cinnamoncolor.Cap1to2inchesbroad.Stem2to3incheslong.”InbeechwoodsinSeptemberandOctober.

ThegenusCortinariushasbeendividedby someauthors into the followingsixgroups:(1)Phlegmacium, inwhich thecap is fleshyandviscid, theveilpartial, and the stem firm and dry; (2) Myxacium, in which the veil isuniversalandglutinous,hencethecapandstembothviscid;capthinandthegillsadnateordecurrent;(3)Inoloma,inwhichthecapisfleshy,dry,andatfirst silky with innate fibrils; veil simple and stem slightly bulbous; (4)Dermocybe, in which the pileus is thinly fleshy, dry, and at first downy,becoming smooth; theveil single and fibrillose; fleshwatery, coloredwhenmoist,stemequalorattenuateddownwards;(5)Telamonia,inwhichthecapismoist,at firstsmoothordottedwith thesuperficial fragmentsof theveil,thestemringedbelow,orperonatelyscalyfromtheremainsoftheuniversal

veil;(6)Hydrocybe,inwhichthecapisthinandmoist,notviscid,smooth,orcovered with superficial white fibrils; stem rigid, not scaly, veil thin,occasionally collapsed in an irregular ring. These subdivisions have beendesignatedas tribesby somebotanistsandsubgenerabyothers, etc.To thedivisions Inoloma and Phlegmacium, respectively, belong the two speciesillustratedinPlateXII.

EDIBLEFigs.1to4Cortinarius(Inoloma)violaceus,Linn.

“VioletCortinarius.”Figs.5to7Cortinarius(Phlegmacium)cærulescens,Fries.

T.Taylor,del.

PLATEXII.

FIGS.1to4.—Cortinarius(Inoloma)violaceusFr.“VioletCortinarius.”

EDIBLE.

Capfleshy,atfirstconvex,thennearlyplane,dottedwithhairytuftsorscales,marginatfirstinvolute,colorpurpleordarkviolet,fleshsoft,purplish;gillsdistant, broad, adnate, somewhat rounded near the stem, at first purplishviolet, changing to an ochraceous or brownish cinnamon color as the plantmatures; stem solid, somewhat bulbous at the base, purple; cortina or veilwhiteortingedwithviolet,sometimesbluish.

Thisisahandsomespecies,andthoughitissomewhatrareinmanylocalities,itsprettyandunusualcoloringdoesnotallowittobeeasilyoverlooked.Itis

edible,andhasamushroomytastewhenraw.AgaricusnudusBull,apurplespecieswithwhitespores, issometimesconfoundedwith it.Thereareotherpurple species ofCortinarius not so pleasant to the taste,which bear someresemblance to C. violaceus. The specimens figured in Plate XII weregatherednearDedham,Mass.,onopengroundon theborderofastretchofpinewoods.

FIGS.5to7.—Cortinarius(Phlegmacium)cærulescens.

EDIBLE.

Cap fleshy, at first convex, thenplane, surface even,viscid; colorbluishorviolet; gills adnexed and crowded, at first bluish, changing to violet orpurplishhues;stemsolid,short,andthick,withabroadlybulbousbase,samecolor as the cap; veil filmy, single. Inwoods andon theborders ofwoods.This mushroom varies in color, the bluish or purplish tints being quitesusceptible to atmospheric changes. When growing in the shade or well-shelteredplaces, it ismuchdarker inhue thanwhenexposedunsheltered tothebright sunlight.The specimen figured inPlateXIIwasgatheredon lowgroundnearapinegroveinEssexCounty,Mass.

Cortinarius (Phlegmacium) purpurascens Fr. bears a slight resemblance tocærulescens, but can be distinguished from it by the spotted or zonedcharacterofthecapandthebroadlyemarginategills.

Cortinarius turmalis, an edible autumnal species, having an ochraceous orbrownish-yellow cap with emarginate or decurrent gills, the latter at firstwhitish, then reddish clay color, is found in abundance in some parts ofMaryland.Thegillsarenevertingedwithpurpleorblue.Thefleshiswhite.Theplantsareeasilydiscoveredbythosefamiliarwith theirhabitat,as theygrow under pine needles in groups, forming small mounds extending overlargespaces,andinthesehidingplaces,intheautumnalmonths,theyarefreefrominsectsanddust.Ihavecollectedabusheloftheminlessthananhourinfresh condition in October. Some of the French authors do not class thisspeciesasedible.Gillet,inhisHymenomycetesofFrance,enumeratesfifty-threeediblespeciesofCortinarius,butplacesturmalisamongthesuspects.Ifind this mushroom not only edible, but very valuable, because of itsabundance in the localitieswhere found. It is often densely cæspitose. Theplant,whenmature,isfrom3to5incheshigh.

C.sebæceus,foundalsoinpinewoods,isrecordedasedible.Theplantistall,white-stemmed, with broad tan-colored, somewhat viscid cap; emarginategills, clay color at first, at last cinnamon color; stem solid, stout, fibrillose,andequal.

Cortinarius collinitus, Smeared Cortinarius, and Cortinarius cinnamomeus,

withitsvarietysemi-sanguinea,havealsobeentested,andfoundedible.Thefirstoftheseissomewhatcommon.Theplantswhenfresharecoveredwithaglutinoussubstance,andthisshouldberemovedbeforecooking.Capsmoothunder theglutinouscoat, lightbrownor tawnyyellow incolor, fleshwhite;gillswhitishorlightgraywhenyoung,cinnamon-huedinthematuredplant.Stem solid, nearly equal, cylindrical, yellowish, and somewhat scaly. C.cinnamomeus belongs to the division Dermocybe. The cap is thin at first,silkywithinnatefibrids,becomingsmooth,andvariesfromlightbrowntoadarkcinnamoncolor.Thegillsareyellowish,thencinnamon;stemdownyorsilky, yellow.Thevariety semi-sanguinea has the lamellæ red, almost as intheprecedingspecies.

C.(Phlegmacium)varius,“VariableCortinarius,”edible,hasacompactfleshyviscid,evencap,brownishincolor,gillsatfirstviolet,changingtocinnamon,stoutsolidstem,whiteorwhitish,adornedwithadpressedflocci,fleshwhite.

Cortinarius (Telamonia) armillatus Fries is given in M. C. Cooke’s list ofedibleCortinarii.Capfleshybutnotthick,fibrilloseandslightlyscaly,brightbaycolor,thinunevenmargin;stemsolid,dingy,rufescent,showingirregularred zonesor bands elongated and slightly bulbous at thebase; gills distant,broad, pallid in color at first, changing to dark cinnamon. C. (Telamonia)hæmatochelis Bull. (edible), somewhat resembles the former in color andsize, though not so bright a brown. Cap thin, silky-fibrillose; gills adnate,narrowandcrowded,lightcinnamon;stemlong,solid,dingy,withareddishzone.

C. (Hydrocybe) castaneus Bull.,Chestnut Cortinarius (edible), is found inwoodsandgardens.Theplantsofthisspeciesareusuallysmall.Capatfirstcampanulate,expanding,sometimesslightlyumbonateinthecentre,chestnutcolor;gillsventricose,crowded,purplish,changingtorustcolor;stemshort,holloworstuffed,cartilaginous,equal,pallid, reddishbrown,or tingedwithviolet;veilwhite.

SubgenusCollybiaFries.Capat firstconvex, thenexpanded,notdepressed,withaninvolutemargin;gillsreachingthestem,butnotdecurrent,sometimesemarginate;stemhollow,withcartilaginousbarkofadifferentsubstancefromthe hymenophore, but confluent with it; often swollen and splitting in themiddle; sporeswhite.Theplants are usually foundgrowingupondead treestumps; some grow upon the ground; a few are parasitic on other fungi orspringingfromsclerotia,smallimpactedmassesofmycelium.Thespeciesaregenerally small and firm and of slow growth. A few are edible, some fewhaveanunpleasantodor.Onaccountofthecartilaginousstemandthedrynessof their substance, some of the smaller species are apt to be taken forMarasmii.Note:SaccardoinhisSyllogegivesCollybiagenericrank.

PlateXIII.EDIBLE

Figs.1to3Agaricus(Collybia)fusipes,Bull.“SpindleFootCollybia.”

Figs.4to6Agaricus(Collybia)maculatus,A.&S.“SpottedWhiteCollybia.”

Figs.7to9Agaricus(Collybia)velutipes,Curt.“VelvetFootedCollybia.”

T.Taylor,del.

PLATEXIII.

FIGS.1to3.—Ag.(Collybia)fusipesBull.“Spindle-FootCollybia.”

EDIBLE.

Cap fleshy, somewhat tough, convex, then plane, smooth, even or slightlycracked in places, umbo evanescent, reddish brown; gills adnexed, nearlyfree,broad,distant,atlengthseparatingnearthestem,firm,white,changingto fawncolor,orpalebrownoften spotted; stem long, stuffed, thenhollow,externally cartilaginous, contorted, swollen in the middle, cracking inlongitudinalslits,fusiform,taperingnarrowlytoarootedbase,reddishbrown.On stumps inwoods in the autumn. Cap 1 to 2 inches broad; stem 2 to 6inches long.This species isdenselycæspitose. It isverygenerally recordedamong authors as edible, although the flesh is somewhat tough. It requireslongandslowcooking.AnEnglishauthorrecommendsitforpickling.Onlythecapsshouldbeusedforthispurpose.

FIGS.4to6.—Ag.(Collybia)maculatusA.&S.(Collybiamaculata).“SpottedWhiteCollybia.”

Capfleshyandcompact,convexo-plane,obtuse,smooth,even,marginthin,atfirst involute, turned inwards, white; stem long and stout, externallycartilaginous, ventricose, sometimes striate, tapering towards the base; gillsfree, or nearly so, narrow, crowded, somewhat linear, white, becomingspotted. Taste slightly acid. The whole plant is creamy white, becomingspottedandstainedthroughoutwithrusty-brownorfoxy-redtints.Theplantsare usually large, long stemmed, and grow in irregular clusters on decayedtreestumpsinwoods.SpecimensofalargesizehavebeengatheredinthefirwoodsnearMattapoisett,Massachusetts.Cap3to5inchesbroad;stem3to5inches long. The variety immaculatus differs from the typical form in notbecomingspottedandinthebroadergills,whichareserrated.

FIGS.7to9.—Ag.(Collybia)velutipesCurt.“Velvet-FootedCollybia.”

Capfleshy,thin,atfirstconvex,thenplane,obtuse,smooth,viscid,tawnyorbrownish yellow, turning dark; flesh yellowish and soft; gills slightlyadnexed,paleyellow;stemtough,stuffed,externallycartilaginous,sometimesslender,butusuallythick,coveredwithabrownvelvetydown,darkbaycolor.This is a very common species in some localities. It is densely cæspitose,growing in heavy clusters onold logs and tree trunks in parks,woods, andgardens. The plants are quite gelatinouswhen cooked.Group figured fromillustrationbyM.C.Cooke.

CollybiaradicataRehl. is recorded as an edible species.The plants have athin, slightly fleshy cap, slightly umbonate, wrinkled, and glutinous atmaturity;distant,white,adnexedgills,andtall,slender,rigidstem.Thelatteris often twisted and usually attenuated upwards, color pale brown. It has along tapering root entering deeply into the soil. This species is solitary inhabit,andiscommonlyfoundingrass,orneardecayedstumps.Capfrom2to3inchesindiameter,stem6inchesto10inchesinlength.

Collybiaesculenta Jacq., a small species found inpinewoodsaswell as inpastures in the spring, is recordedasediblebyanumberofauthors. In thisspecies the cap is nearly plane, obtuse, and smooth, brownish; gills adnate,whitish;stemveryslender,fistulose,equal,tough,smooth,reddishclaycolor,deeplyrooting.

APPENDIX.

AsChiefoftheDivisionofMicroscopy,U.S.DepartmentofAgriculture,theauthorpreparedfortheWorld’sColumbianExpositionatChicagoacollectionof models of edible and poisonous mushrooms, for which a medal anddiplomawerethereawarded.Thesamecollection,whichnowbelongstotheMuseum of the Department of Agriculture, was exhibited at the AtlantaCottonExpositionin1895,whereadiplomawasagainawardedforit,andhassincebeenexhibitedattheexpositionof1897inNashville,Tenn.Themodelscomposing this collection, about one thousand in number,weremade fromactual specimens and colored to nature, the same species being generallyrepresentedbynumerousspecimenssoastoillustratethevariousstagesinthelifeoftheplant,habitofgrowth,etc.

Thefollowingisalistofthemushroomsrepresentedinthiscollection,amongwhich there are types of most of the genera in which species recorded asedibleoccur:

AmanitaCæsareaSchaeff.“OrangeAmanita.”Edible.

AmanitarubescensPers.“TheBlusher.”“Reddish-BrownAmanita.”Edible.

AmanitastrobiliformisVitt.“Fir-Cone”or“Pine-ConeAmanita.”Edible.

AmanitapantherinusD.C.“PantherMushroom.”Poisonous.

AmanitaphalloidesFr.“PoisonAmanita.”Poisonous.

AmanitamuscariaLinn.“FlyAmanita.”“FalseOrange.”Poisonous.

AmanitavernaBull.“SpringMushroom.”“VernalAmanita.”Poisonous.

AmanitopsisvaginataRoze.“TheGrizette.”“SheathedAmanitopsis.”Edible.

LepiotaproceraScop.“ParasolMushroom.”“TallLepiota.”Edible.

LepiotaracodesVitt.“RaggedLepiota.”Edible.

ArmillariamelleaFr.“HoneyMushroom.”Edible.

TricholomaterreumSchaeff.“TheGrayCap.”Edible.

ClitocybeilludensSchw.“GiantClitocybe.”Unwholesome.

ClitocybeodoraBull.“OdorousClitocybe.”Edible.

ClitocybelaccataScop.Edible.

CollybiafusipesBull.“Spindle-FootCollybia.”Edible.

PleurotusostreatusJacq.“OysterMushroom.”Edible.

PleurotusulmariusJacq.“ElmPleurotus.”Edible.

VolvariabombycinaSchaeff.“SilkyVolvaria.”Thisspecieshasbeenrecorded

by some authors as poisonous.Hays, after testing it, speakswell of it, andstatesthatiseatenontheContinent.

VolvariaspeciosaFr.Notcommended.

PholiotacaperataPers.Edible.

Agaricuscampester.“FieldMushroom.”Edible.

AgaricusarvensisSchaeff.“HorseMushroom.”Edible.

Hypholomasublateritium.“BrickTop.”Edible.

HypholomaCandolliana.Edible.

CoprinuscomatusFr.“ShaggyManeMushroom.”Edible.

Coprinusatramentarius.“InkyCoprinus.”Edible.

CortinariusturmalisFr.Edible.

CortinariuscærulescensFr.Edible.

HygrophorusconicusFr.ConicalMushroom.Hasbeenrecordedbyanumberofauthorsaspoisonous.Somelaterwritersspeakofitasedible.

HygrophoruspuniceusFr.“PurplishHygrophorus.”Edible.

HygrophorusceraceusFr.“WaxenHygrophorus.”Edible.

LactariusdeliciosusFr.“DeliciousLactarius.”Edible.

LactariusvolemusFr.“Orange-brownLactarius.”Edible.

Lactarius torminosus Fr. This mushroom is said to contain an acrid juicewhichactsseriouslyonthestomachandalimentarycanal.

LactariusrufusFr.Intenselyacrid.

LactariusvellereusFr.Extremelyacrid.

Lactariuspiperatus.“FieryMilkMushroom.”Extremelyacridwhenraw.TheRussiansparboilit,throwingawaytheliquid,beforepreparingforpickling.AnotedGermanchemistreportsit“notverysafe.”

RussulaalutaceaFr.Yellow-gilledRussula.Edible.

RussulavirescensFr.Edible.

RussulacyanoxanthaSchaeff.“VariableRussula.”Edible.

Russulaemetica Fr. Thismushroom is extremely acridwhen raw; by someauthorsitisrecordedaspoisonous,byothersasedible.Chemicalanalysishasshownthatitcontainsavaryingproportionofmuscarin,aswellascholin,etc.

CantharelluscibariusFr.“TheChantarelle.”Edible.

MarasmiusoreadesBolt.“TheFairyRingMushroom.”Edible.

BoletusedulisBull.Edible.

BoletusscaberFr.Edible.

BoletusgranulatusLinn.Edible.

BoletusbrevipesPk.Edible.

BoletusluteusLinn.Edible.

BoletuspachypusFr.Edible.

BoletusAmericanusPk.Edible.

BoletussubtomentosusLinn.Edible.

BoletuscastaneusBull.Edible.

BoletusSatanusLenz.“White-toppedBoletus.”Recordedaspoisonous.

BoletusluridusSchaeff.“Red-poredBoletus.”Recordedaspoisonous.

StrobilomycesstrobilaceusBull.Edible.

FistulinahepaticaFr.“BeefsteakFungus.”Edible.

PolyporussulfureusBull.Edible.

HydnumrepandumLinn.Edible.

HydnumerinaceumBull.Edible.

SparassiscrispaWulf.Edible.

ClavariacinereaBull.Edible.

Clavariarugosa.Edible.

LycoperdongemmatumFr.Edible.

LycoperdongiganteumFr.“GiantPuff-Ball.”Edible.

LycoperdonpyriformeSchaeff.“Pear-shapedPuff-Ball.”Edible.

SclerodermavulgareFr.

MorchellaesculentaPers.Edible.

MorchellaconicaBull.Edible.

HirneolaauriculaJudæBull.Edible.

IthyphallusimpudicusLinn.Unwholesome.

ClathruscancellatusLinn.Unwholesome.

NOTE.—In addition to the above there were also represented a number ofcoriaceousorwoodyspecieswhichgrowupontrees,oldstumps,etc.

STUDENT’SHAND-BOOKOF

MUSHROOMSOFAMERICA

EDIBLEANDPOISONOUS.

BYTHOMASTAYLOR,M.D.AUTHOROFFOODPRODUCTS,ETC.

FellowoftheA.A.A.S.;Hon.MemberoftheMic.SectionRoyalInst.,Liverpool,England;MemberofHonoroftheInternationalMedicalSocietyof

Hygiene,Brussels;MemberoftheAmericanandWashingtonChemicalSocieties;FrenchChemicalSociety,Paris;oftheAmericanTextileSociety;MedicalSocietyofWashington,D.C.;Cor.MemberAcademyofArtsand

SciencesofBrooklyn,N.Y.;Cor.MemberMic.SocietiesofNewYork,Buffalo,etc.,etc.

PublishedinSerialForm—No.5—Price,50c.pernumber.

WASHINGTON,D.C.:A.R.TAYLOR,PUBLISHER,238MASS.AVE.N.E.

1897.

PUBLISHER’SNOTE.

It has not been possible to represent all the genera of mushrooms whichcontainspecieshavingvalueasesculentswithinthecompassofthisseriesoffivepamphlets,butthedemandforthesepromisestojustifythepublication,atafuturedate,ofasecondseries,whichtheauthornowhasinpreparation.

A.R.T.

Copyright,1898,byTHOMASTAYLOR,M.D.,

andA.R.TAYLOR.

AGARICINI.

LEUCOSPORI—(SporesWhite).

SubgenusPleurotus Fries. The Pleuroti are similar in some respects to theTricholomasandClitocybes,someofthespecieshavingnotchedgillsnearthestem,andothers,again,havingthegillsdecurrent,orrunningdownthestem.Mostofthespeciesgrowupondeadwoodorfromdecayingportionsoflivetrees.Veryfewgrowupontheground.Thestemismostlyeccentric,lateral,orwanting;whenpresentit ishomogeneousorconfluentwiththesubstanceof the cap; the substance may be compact, spongy, slightly fleshy, ormembranaceous.Veilevanescentorabsent.Thesporesarewhiteor slightlytinted.

M.C.Cookefiguresover thirtyspeciesofPleurotusfoundinGreatBritain,anddescribes45speciesfoundinAustralia.Withfewexceptions,allofthesegrowuponwood.Veryfewhavevalueasesculents.

Agaricus(Pleurotus)ostreatus,Jacq.Edible.

T.Taylor,del.

PLATEJ.

Ag.(Pleurotus)ostreatusJacq.“OysterMushroom.”

EDIBLE.

Capsoft, fleshy,smooth,shell-shaped,whiteorcinereous, turningbrownishoryellowishwithage.Fleshwhite,somewhatfibrous.Gillswhite,broadanddecurrent,anastamosingatthebase.Stemusuallynotwelldefined,lateral,orabsent.Sporeselliptical,white.Thecapsaresometimesthicklyclusteredandcloselyoverlapping,andsometimeswideapart.Thismushroomhaslongbeenknownasediblebothrawandcooked.Ithasapleasantbutnotdecidedflavorandmustbecookedslowlyandcarefully tobe tenderandeasilydigestible.Oldspecimensareapttobetough.Itisfoundondecayingwoodandoftenonfallen logs in moist places or upon decaying tree-trunks. It is frequentlyrecurrent on the same tree. I have gathered great quantities of the Oystermushroomduringseveralseasonspastfromafallenbirchtreewhichspannedasmall stream.The lowerendof the tree restedon themoistgroundat theedgeofthestream.Specimenshavebeenfoundonthewillow,ashandpoplartrees,andupontheappleandthelaburnum.

PleurotussapidusKalchb.SapidPleurotus.Edible.

This species closely resembles the Oyster mushroom in form and habit of

growth, and is by some considered only a variety ofP. ostreatus. It growsusually in tufts with the caps closely overlapping, varying in color white,ashy, grayish or brownish. Flesh white. The stems are white, smooth andshort,mostly springing from a common base. The gills arewhite and verybroad,anddecurrent.Thesporesassumeaverypalelilactintonexposuretotheatmosphere.

PleurotusulmariusBull.“ElmPleurotus.”Edible.

TheElmPleurotus isquiteconspicuousbyreasonof its largesizeand lightcolor.Thecapissmoothandcompact,usuallywhitishwithadullyellowishtingeinthecenter.Fleshwhite.Theskincracksveryeasily,givingitascalyappearance. The gills are broad, and toothed or notched near their point ofattachment to the stem as in the Tricholomas, white in color, turningyellowishwithage.Thestemisfirmandsmooth,solidandrathereccentric,thickandsometimesslightlydownynearthebase,fromtwotofourinchesinlength. Although this mushroom seems to prefer the elm and is mostfrequentlyfoundontreesofthatspecies,itisfoundalsouponothertrees,butprincipallythemaple,theash,thewillow,andthepoplar.Itgrowsuponlivetrees, usuallywhere the branches have been cut away, and upon stumps aswell.Mostauthorsrecommenditasanesculent,althoughithasnottherichflavorofsomeothermushrooms.Itdrieswellandcanbekeptthusforwinteruse.Thisspecieshasawiderangeandgrowsmostabundantlyintheautumn.Itsresistancetocoldhasbeenfrequentlyremarked.

AGARICINI.

SubgenusAmanita.TheAmanitasareusuallylargeandsomewhatwatery,theflesh brittle rather than tough. The very young plants are enveloped in amembranous wrapper, which breaks apart with the expansion of the plant,leavingamoreorlesspersistentsheathatthebaseofthestem.Theuniversalveilisdistinctandfreefromthecuticleofthecap.Thecapisconvexatfirst,then expanded; in some species naked and smooth; in others, clothedwithmembranaceous patches of the volva. The stem is distinct from the fleshysubstanceofthecap,ringedandfurnishedwithavolvaorsheath.Insomeofthe species this sheath is connate with the base of the stem, firm andpersistent.Inothers,itisfriable,atlengthnearlyobsolete.

Theringisusuallypersistent,deflexed,moreorlessprominent,inrarecasespressedcloseagainst thestem,andsometimesscarcelydistinguishablefromit. The gills in most of the species are free from the stems, but there areexceptions to this rule. Spores white. As to geographical distribution,accordingtoM.C.Cooke,seven-eighthsofthespeciesaredistinctlylocatedinthetemperatezone,one-twentiethata temperateelevation,andonlyone-twentiethpresumablytropical.Outoftheeightyspecies,aboutsixtyareNorth

AmericanandEuropean,andonespeciesisfoundontheslopesoftheAndes,inSouthAmerica.Asheretoforestated,thisgroupamongmushroomsismaderesponsible for most of the well authenticated cases of fatal poisoning bymushrooms. It would be judicious, therefore, for those who are notthoroughly familiarwith the characteristics of the edibleAmanitas to defermakingexperimentswiththemfortableuseuntilthatfamiliarityisacquired.

Saccardo in his Sylloge describes no less than fifteen edible species ofAmanitaasfoundindifferentpartsof theworld.OfthoseIhavepersonallybeenabletoidentifybutthreewhicharecommoninthiscountry,andwhichhave been well tested. Specimens of these three species are illustrated inPlates XIV and XIV½ of this pamphlet. They are each and all found invaryingabundanceindifferentpartsoftheUnitedStates.

EDIBLEAMANITAS.Figs.1to4Ag.(Amanita)Cæsareus,Scop.(AmanitaCæsarea)

“OrangeAmanita.”Figs.5to9Ag.(Amanita)rubescens.Pers.“TheBlusher.”

“ReddishBrownAmanita.”EDIBLE.

T.Taylor,del.

PLATEXIV.

FIGS.1to4.Ag.(Amanita)CæsareusScop.(AmanitaCæsarea).“OrangeAmanita,”“TrueOrange.”

EDIBLE.

Cap at first convex, afterwards well expanded; smooth, free from warts,striateonthemargin;colororange-redorbrightlemon-yellow,withreddisk;gills lemon-yellow, rounded near the stem, and free from it; stem equal orslightlytaperingupwards,stuffedwithcottonyfibrils,orhollow(colorclearlemon-yellow),bearingayellowishringnearthetopandsheathedatthebasewithlarge,loose,membranous,whitevolva.Odorfaintbutagreeable.Sporeswhite,elliptical.

The whole plant is symmetrical in form, brilliant in coloring, clean andattractive in appearance.TheAmericanplant seems todiffer in some slightrespects from theEuropeanas figuredanddescribed inEuropeanworks. InEuropethepileusorcapissaidtovaryincolor,beingsometimeswhite,paleyellow, red or even copper color, although it is usually orange-yellow.Myown observation of the American plant of this species agrees with that ofProf. Peck in that the cap is uniform in color, being at first bright reddish-orangeorevenbrilliantred,fadingwithagetoyellow,eitherwhollyoronlyonthemargin.Nowhitespecimenshavebeenasyetrecordedinthiscountry.Theredcolordisappearsinthedriedspecimens.ThestriationsofthemarginareusuallyquitedeepandlongandalmostasdistantasintheediblespeciesAmanitopsis vaginata. Some European writers have described the flesh orsubstanceofthecapasyellowish.Inourplantthefleshiswhite,butstainedwith yellow or red immediately under the cuticle. AmanitaCæsarea is theonlyoneoftheAmanitaswhichhasyellowgills.

Berkeley, in his “Outlines of British Fungi,” describes A. Cæsarea as it isfoundinsomepartsofContinentalEurope,butstatesthatuptothedateofhiswritingithadnotbeenfoundinGreatBritain.ItisnotrecordedinthemorerecentlistsofBritishfungibyM.C.CookenorinthatofAustralianfungibythesameauthor.Thespecieshasawiderangeinthiscountry,andthoughnotverycommonintheNorth,insomelocalities,asinthepineandoakwoodsofNorthCarolina, it isfoundingreatabundance.Dufourstatesthat it ismuchesteemedasanesculentinFrance,andthoughrareinthenorthernpartofthatcountry, it iscommonin thecenterand thesouthofFrance inautumn. It iswell known in different portions of Continental Europe, and is frequentlyfigured in contrastwith its very poisonous congener,Amanitamuscaria, or“FalseOrange,”commonlyknownasthe“FlyAmanita,”or“Fly-Killer.”

Acarelessobservermightmistakeonefortheother,butwithalittleattentiontowell-defineddetailstheedibleformcanbereadilydistinguishedfromthepoisonousone.

In analyzing the species the attention should be directed to the followingcharacteristicsof the twomushrooms:InA.Cæsarea thecap issmooth, the

stem,gillsandringlemon-yellow,andthecup-shapedwrapperorvolvawhichsheathesthebaseofthestemiswhiteandpersistentlymembranous.

InA.muscariathecapiswartyorshowsthetracesorremainsofwarts;thegillswhite, stemwhite, or only very slightly yellowish, and thewrapper orvolvaisevanescent,breakingupintoridge-likepatchesadheringtothebaseofthestem.

The Amanita Cæsarea has long been esteemed as an esculent in foreigncountries, andwasknown in ancient times to theGreeks andRomans. It isknown under the following names: “Orange,” “Cæsar’s mushroom,”“Imperial mushroom,” “Yellow-egg,” “Kaiserling,” etc. Mycologists whohavetesteditagreeastoitsedibilityanddelicateflavor.

ThespecimensfiguredinPlateXIVrepresenttheaveragesizeofthosewhichIhavegatheredinthevicinityoftheDistrictofColumbia.MuchlargeroneshavebeengatheredinthewoodyportionsofDruidHillPark,Baltimore,Md.

Dufourwrites:“Thismushroom,the“trueoronge,”iscookedinavarietyofways, and it always constitutes an exquisite dish.” This author gives thefollowingrecipesforcookingtheCæsarea,whichhecallsthe“Oronge:”

Orongeàlabordelaise.—Thestemismincedwithfineherbs,bread-crumbs,and garlic, and seasoned with pepper and salt. This hash is placed in theconcavityofthecaps,andallisputtobakewithgoodoilinapansteamedinachafingdish.

Oronge à l’Italienne.—Stew gently with a little butter and salt, then servewithasaucecomposedofoilseasonedwiththejuiceoflemon,pepper,garlic,andextractofsweetalmond.

The Spanish are fond of this mushroom, and it is said to enter into theirnational dish, olla podrida, a mixture of meat, vegetables, and spices,wheneveritcanbeobtained.

Itissometimesfriedinbutteroroliveoilandseasonedwithsugar.

PLATEXIV.

FIGS.5to9.—Ag.(Amanita)rubescensPers.(Amanitarubescens).“TheBlusher,”“ReddishBrownAmanita.”

EDIBLE.

Cap at first convex then expanded, margin even or very slightly striated,usually reddish-brown or reddish-fawn color, covered with mealy, more orloss persistent warts; flesh white, changing to a reddish or pinkish tinge,wherecutorbruised,thereddishtingemostintenseinthebulbousportionofthebaseofthestem;gillsreachingthestemandformingdecurrentlinesupon

it, white, becoming spotted with rusty or wine red stains when bruised orattackedbyinsects;stemringed,whitishordingywhite,becomingbrownishorspotted,withreddish-brownstains.Thebaseofthestemisusuallybulbous,the bulb sometimes tapering to a point at the root, and in some instancesendingabruptly.

Theringorcollarwhichencirclesthestemnearthetopismembranous,andusuallywelldefined.

Thevolvawhichcompletelyenvelopstheyoungplantisveryfriableandsoondisappears. Fragments of the volva may be seen in the shape of scales orsmall particlesupon themushroomstem, and inwart-likepatchesupon thecap.IntherepresentationsofthismushroomwhichappearinEuropeanworksthecapisadeeperreddish-browntintthanIhavefoundithere.Thecolorofthe cap is usually a light reddish brown or reddish gray, sometimes almostwhite. This species is found usually in light openwoods. In awarmmoistclimate it appears early in the season, and can be gathered until the frostscome.Tasteverypleasant.

Thereisapoisonousspecies,Amanitapantherinus, rare,whichhasaviscidbrownwartedcapbearingaslight resemblance to thatof therubescens,butthegillsdonotturnredwhenbruised,andthevolvaatthebaseofthestemiswelldefinedandpersistent.

Therubescens isveryplentiful in thewoodsofMarylandandVirginia,andspecimens have been received from different parts of the country. I havefrequently eaten it stewed with butter, and found it very good eating. HayspeaksofitasbeingeateninEngland,whereitiscalledthe“Blusher.”Cookesaysitispleasantbothintasteandodor.ItisspokenofbyFrenchauthorsasofdelicateflavor,andaswellknowninsomepartsofFrance.Inpreparingforthetablebringthemushroomtoaquickboilandpouroffthefirstwater,thenstewwithflavoringtosuitthetaste.

ThespecimensofthisspeciesrepresentedinPlateXIVwerecollectedinthewoodsofForestGlen,Maryland.Theyareoften foundofmuch larger sizeandmuch lighter in coloring,with the stains upon the gills redder in color.Theveryyoungplants as theyburst through the surfaceof the soil show adistinct volva at the base of the stem. In the mature plant this disappears,oftenleavingtheslightlybulbousbasequitesmooth.

PlateXIV½.Agaricus(Amanita)strobiliformis,Vitt.“Fir-ConeMushroom.”

Edible.FromNature.T.Taylor,del.

PLATEXIV½.

Ag.(Amanita)strobiliformisFries(Amanitastrobiliformis).“Fir-coneMushroom.”

EDIBLE.

Cap fleshy, convex at first, then expanded, covered with persistent whitewarts, margin even, white; flesh white, firm and compact; gills roundedbehindandfreefromthestem,white;stemsolid, thebulbousbasetapering,furrowedwithconcentricandlongitudinalchannelsattheroot,andextendingwellintotheground,white;ringlarge,soonsplitting;volvabreakingupandappearinginconcentricridgesuponthestem.Sporeswhite.

This mushroom is very pleasant to the taste when raw as well as whencooked.Itisfoundinlightwoodsoronthebordersofwoodswherethesoilissomewhat friable, generally solitary, but sometimes two or three are foundclusteredtogether.Theplantsaresometimessolargethattwoorthreeofthemwould make a very good meal. Specimens have been found with the capmeasuring8to9inchesacrosswhenexpanded,thestemvaryingfrom6to8inchesinheight,andfrom1to3inchesinthickness.Whenyoungtheplants

aregenerallysnowywhitethroughout,changingwithagetoadingywhiteorcinereoushue.ThespecimensfiguredintheplateformedoneofaclusterofthreemushroomsofthisspeciesfoundgrowinginthefirwoodsoftheDistrictofColumbia.

During some seasons I have found the strobiliformis, or “Fir-conemushroom,”fairlyplentifulinsomepartsofMaryland,andinotherseasonsithas been rare. The whole plant when young is enclosed in a whitemembranouswrapper.

Althoughthisspeciesisverygenerallyrecognizedbymycologistsasedible,Iwouldadvisegreatcautioninselectingspecimensfortableuse,sincethereisadangerousspecieswhichmightbemistakenforitbyonenotfamiliarwiththecharacteristicsofbothspecies;IrefertoaformofAmanitamuscariawithochraceousyellowcapwhich,when fadedorbleachedby the sunand rain,sometimesapproaches, intint, thedingywhiteofoldorfadedspecimensofthe strobiliformis. Both species have white gills, white stems, and whiteflocculentveil.Thevolvaisevanescentinboth,leavingtracesofitsexistenceinconcentricridgesatthebase,andpartwayupthestem.

Inthespeciesstrobiliformis,thefleshofthecapiswhitethroughout,aswellasthecuticle.

In the yellowishmuscaria, the flesh immediately beneath the cuticle of theupper surface of the cap is yellowish, frequently deepening at the disk toorangehue.

ThecapofAmanitamuscariaisveryattractivetoflies,butprovestothem,asalsotoroachesandtosomeotherinsects,adeadlypoison.

The juice of strobiliformis is not poisonous to flies. This fact may aid inidentifyingthespecies.

Subgenus Amanitopsis Roze. The species of this subgenus were formerlyincluded inAmanita.The characteristicwhich separates it fromAmanita istheabsenceofaringonthestem.Thegillsarefreefromthestem,thesporesarewhite,andthewholeplantinyouthisencasedinanegg-shapedvolva.[A]

[A]AlthoughthissubgenusisnotincludedinM.C.Cooke’sanalyticalkeytotheorderofAgaricini,publishedwithhiskindpermission inNo.3of thisseries,henowincludesitasoneofthesubgenerawhichshouldhaveaplaceinthatlist.

AmanitopsisvaginataRoze.Edible.

Thisspeciesisverycommoninpineandoakforests.Theplant,asawhole,hasagracefulaspectandgrowssinglyorscatteredthroughopenplacesinthewoods. It is somewhat fragile and easily broken.The cap in this species isusuallyamouse-gray,sometimesslatygrayorbrownish,generallyumbonate

inthecenteranddistinctlystriatedonthemargin.

Thestem iswhite, equal, andslender inproportion to thewidthof thecap,and sheathed quite far up with a loose white membranous wrapper. Thissheathissoslightlyattachedtothebaseofthestemthatitisoftenleftintheground if theplant is carelesslypulled.Thegills arewhite,orwhitish, freefromthestemandroundedattheouterextremity.

Thereisawhitevariety,(varietyalba)A.nivalis,inwhichthewholeplantiswhite, and a tawny variety (A. fulva Schaeff.) in which the cap is a paleochraceousyellow,withthegillsandstemwhiteorwhitish.InthevarietyA.livida orA. spadicea Grev. the cap is brown, while the stem and gills aretingedasmokybrown.

These are all edible andof fairly good flavor.Except in the absenceof theringupon thestem, the lightvarietiesmightbemistakenforsmall formsofthepoisonousspeciesAmanitavernaorofphalloides.Great caution shouldthereforebeobserved,ingatheringforthetable,tobesureofthespecies.

Figs.1to7.Ag.(Amanita)muscarius,Linn.(Amanitamuscaria)“FlyMushroom.”

Fig.8.Ag.(Amanita)phalloides,Fries.Fig.9.Ag.(Amanita)mappaBatsch.

POISONOUS.T.Taylor,del.

PLATEXV.

Figs.1to7.—Ag.(Amanita)muscariusLinn.(Amanitamuscaria).“FlyMushroom,”“FalseOrange.”

POISONOUS.

Capwarty,margin striate;gillswhite, reaching the stem,andoften formingdecurrent lines upon it; stem white, stuffed, annulate, bulbous at the base,concentrically ridgedor scalyat thebase,andsometimespartwayup,withfragments of the rupturedwrapper.Sporeswidely elliptical,white, .0003 to.0004ofaninchinlength.

Theplantsofthisspeciesvaryverymuchinsizeandinthecolorofthecap.The latter is sometimes a bright scarlet and again it is orange color, morefrequentlyochraceousyellow,fadingtoaverypaleyellowtint.Inthevarietyalbusitiswhite.Thestemisstuffedwithwebbyfibrilsandvariesverymuchinthickness:sometimesinyoungspecimensitisverystout,withathickovatebulbreachingwelluptowardsthecap,andagainitiscomparativelyslenderandnearlyequalfromthecapdowntoaveryslightbulbatthebase.Theveryyoung plant is completely enveloped in a white or yellowish egg-shapedwrapper or volva, which, being friable, generally breaks up into scales,formingwartsupontheuppersurfaceofthecap.Whentheplantisyoungandmoistthecapisslightlysticky.Athickishwhiteveilextendsfromthestemtotheinnermarginofthecap.Thisbreaksawaywiththegrowthandexpansionof the plant and falls in lax folds, forming a deflexed ring round the upperportionofthestem.

Thismushroomisverycommoninwoodsandforestsinsummerandautumn,and has a wide geographical range. It is recorded by all mycologists aspoisonous.Oneauthorstatesthatwheneateninverysmallquantitiesitactsasacathartic,butthatitcausesdeathwheneatenfreely.Fliesfindinitadeadlypoison,andthepoisonousalkaloidsarenotdestroyedbydrying.

Althoughcasesarecitedwherethismushroomhasbeeneatenwithoutinjury,itsfatallypoisonouseffectshavebeentoowellandtoooftentestedtoallowofanydoubtastothedangerofeatingit,eveninsmallquantities.

Amanita Frostiana, Frost’s Amanita, is a much smaller species than A.muscaria. It bears a very close resemblance to the FlyAmanita, andmighteasilybetakenforasmallformofthesame.Thecapisyellowishandwarted,and specimens occur in which the stem and gills are slightly tinged withyellow.Itispoisonous.

PLATEXV.

FIG.8.—Ag.(Amanita)phalloidesFries(Amanitaphalloides)A.vernalisBolt.,A.verrucosusCurtis.“PoisonousAmanita,”“DeathCup.”

POISONOUS.

Cap bell-shaped or ovate at first, then expanded, smooth, obtuse, viscid,margin even, creamy-white, brown, or greenish,withoutwarts; fleshwhite;stemwhite,holloworstuffed,bulbousatthebase,annulate;gillsroundedandventricose, coarse, and persistently white, free from the stem; volvaconspicuous,large,loose,adheringtothebase,butfreefromthestematthetop,withthemarginirregularlynotched.Inthewhiteformsthereisfrequentlyagreenishoryellowtingeatthediskorcentreofthecap.Thewhiteformismostcommon,butthebrownishisoftenfoundinthiscountry.Ihavenotyetfoundthegreen-cappedvarietysometimesfiguredinEuropeanworks.Inthebrown variety the stem and ring are often tinged with brown, as also thevolva.Thecapisusuallyfrom2to3inchesbroad,andthestemfrom3to5inches long. The whole plant is symmetrical in shape and clean looking,though somewhat clammy to the touch when moist. It is very common inmixed woods, in some localities, and is universally considered as fatallypoisonous.

The white form of A. phalloides, although in reality bearing very littleresemblancetothecommonfieldmushroom,hasbeenmistakenforitasalsofortheSmoothwhitelepiota,andinsomeinstanceshasbeeneatenwithfatalresultsbythosewhogatheredit.

ThedistinctionbetweenthismostpoisonousAmanitaandthecommonfieldmushroom is well marked. In the common mushroom the gills are pink,becomingdarkbrown,thesporespurplishbrown,andthewholemushroomisstoutandshortstemmed,thestembeingshorterthanthediameterofthecap,andhavingnovolva,orwrapperatitsbase.InthespeciesA.phalloides thegillsarepersistentlywhiteandthebulbisdistinctandbroadatthebase, thewhitecup-shapedwrappersheathingthebaseofthestemlikethecalyxofaflower.TheSmoothwhite lepiota showsneithervolvanor traceofone, andhasotherdistinctcharacteristicswhichdistinguishitfromA.phalloides.Seepage14,No.4ofthisseries.

The specimen figured in Plate XV grew in Maryland, where it is quitecommon.

PLATEXV.

FIG.9.—Ag.(Amanita)mappa(Amanitamappa)Linn.,Amanitacitrina,A.virosa.

POISONOUS.

Capatfirstconvex,thenexpanded,dry,withoutaseparablecuticle,notwartybut showing white, yellowish, or brownish scales or patches on its upper

surface;gillswhite,adnexed;fleshwhite,sometimesslightlyyellowishunderthe skin; stem stuffed, then hollow, cylindrical, yellowish white, nearlysmooth, with a distinctly bulbous base; volva white or brownish. Odorpleasant.Sporesspheroidal.Thecap in this species is somewhatvariable incolor,butthosehavingawhitecaparemostcommon.Theplantisnotsotallasthoseofthespeciesphalloides.Itissolitaryinhabit,andisfoundusuallyinopenwoods.

CurtisandLowerbyfiguremappaandphalloidesunderthesamename.

Fig.1.Ag.(Amanita)vernus,Bull.(Amanitaverna.)“SpringMushroom.”Fig.2.Representssectionofmatureplant.

Fig.3.Spores;Fig.4.Youngplant.POISONOUS.T.Taylor,del.

PLATEXVI.

FIGS.1to4.—Ag.(Amanita)vernusBull.(Amanitaverna)Linn.,Amanitabulbosa,Ag.solitarius.“VernalMushroom,”“SpringMushroom,”etc.

POISONOUS.

Cap at first ovate, then expanded, becoming at length slightly depressed,viscid,white;marginsmooth;fleshwhite;gillswhite,free;stemwhite,equal,stuffedorhollow,easily splitting, floccose,withbulbousbase;volvawhite,closely embracing the stem, but free from it at the margin; ring reflexed;spores globose, .0003 in. broad. The plant is creamywhite throughout and

does not seem to be easily distinguishable from the white forms of A.phalloides. Fries and some others consider this speciesmerely a variety ofAmanitaphalloides, and it is regarded as equally poisonous, the poisonousprinciplebeingthesameasthatofA.phalloides.Itisverycommoninmixedwoodsfromearlyspringtofrostyweather.

ALKALOIDSOFTHEPOISONOUSMUSHROOMS.

Schrader, after some experiments made in 1811, stated that the poisonousprincipleofthe“Flymushroom,”Amanitamuscaria,seemedtobecombinedwith its red coloring matter and might be extracted by water or aqueousalcohol,butthatitwasnotsolubleinether.

Vaquelin, as the result of more extended investigations made in 1813,expressedtheopinionthatthispoisonwasnotconfinedtothecoloringmatterofthemushroom,butthatitwasanintegralpartofthefattyconstituentsnotonlyofmuscariabutofseveralspeciesofmushrooms.In1826and1830,andagainin1867,importantinvestigationsweremadeandpublishedbyLetellierrelating to the medical and poisonous properties of mushrooms growingaround Paris. Letellier’s early investigations led him to the conclusion thatthere were two poisons contained in certain fungi—(1) an acrid principleeasily destroyed by drying or boiling or by maceration in alcohol or inalkalinesolution,and(2)apeculiarpoisonousalkaloidfoundonlyincertainof theAmanitagroup.Letellier in1866named this latteralkaloidamanitin.HethenconsideredittobetheactivepoisonofAmanitamuscaria,Amanitaphalloides, and Amanita verna, but a subsequent analysis by the Germanchemists Schmiedeberg and Koppe showed the amanitin of Letellier to beidenticalwithcholin,asubstancefoundinbile.Kobertsaysthatamanitin isnon-poisonous in itself, but states that it may be changed on decay of themushroomtothemuscarin-likeactingneurin,whichishighlypoisonous.Hethinks it highly probable that nearly all of the edible and non-ediblemushroomscontainpureamanitin (cholin)partly inprimitiveconditionandpartly in a more intricate organic connection, as lecithin. It has beendemonstrated that amanitin separates very readily from lecithin during thedecay or careless drying of mushrooms and changes into the poisonousneurin;hencethenecessityofusingmushroomsonlywhenperfectlyfreshor

whenquicklydried.

MUSCARIN.[A]

[A] The earliest account of the separation of the poisonous principles of themushrooms of the genus Amanita dates back to the experiments of Apoiger in1851.Harnack’sresearcheswerepublishedin1876andthoseofHusemanin1882.

TotheeminentGermanchemistsSchmiedebergandKoppeisduethecreditof isolating theactivepoisonousprincipleof theFlymushroom(muscarin).Theseauthorspublishedin1869aseriesofinterestingexperimentsmadewithmuscarin,having relation to itseffectupon theheart, respiration, secretionsanddigestive organs, etc., and thiswas supplemented by other experimentsmade by their pupils, Prof. R. Boehm and E. Harnack. Schmiedeberg andKoppe’sworkrelatestotheeffectofthispoisononmanaswellasupontheloweranimals.Dr.J.L.Prevostin1874reviewedtheinvestigationsmadebySchmiedeberg and Koppe in a paper read before the Biological Society ofGeneva, adding some confirmatory observations of his own relative toexperimentsmadewithmuscarin upon the lower animals. The experimentsmade by these authors demonstrated “that muscarin arrests the action of afrog’sheart, thatamuscarinedfrog’sheartbegantobeat immediatelyunderthe influence of atropin, and further that it was impossible to muscarine afrog’sheartwhileundertheinfluenceofatropin.”

Schmiedebergsubjectedcatsanddogstodosesofmuscarin,largeenoughtoproduce death, and when the animals were about to succumb, injectedhypodermically from one to two milligrams of sulphate of atropin, afterwhich the toxic symptomsdisappearedand theanimals completely revived.Prof. Boehm found that digitalin likewise re-established heart action whensuspendedbytheactionofmuscarin.

In man the fatal termination, in cases of mushroom poisoning, where theantidoteisnotused,maytakeplaceinfrom5to12hoursornotfortwoorthreedays.

AccordingtoProf.E.Kobert’srecentchemicalanalysis,the“Flymushroom,”Amanitamuscaria, contains not only the very poisonous alkaloidmuscarinand theamanitinofLetellier (cholin),butalsoa thirdalkaloid,pilzatropin.The pilz-atropin (mushroom atropin)was discovered by Schmiedeberg in acommercial preparationofmuscarin, and laterProf.Kobertdiscovered it invaryingproportionsinfreshmushroomsofdifferentspecies.Theeffectofthisthird alkaloid, it is claimed, is to neutralize to a greater or less extent theeffectofthepoisonousone.Underitsinfluence,whenpresentinquantity,thepoison is almost entirely neutralized. Contraction of the pupils changes to

dilation,andslowingofthepulsemaydisappear.OnlythroughthepresenceofthisnaturalantidoteintheFlymushroom,saysKobert,isitpossible,asinsomepartsofFranceandRussia,toeatwithoutdangerthismushroom,whichcontains10%ofsugar(trehaloseormycose)inafermentedandunfermentedcondition. He states also that delirium, intoxication, and other symptomswhich, according to Prof. Dittmer of Kamschatka and various scientifictravellers,arereportedeffectsoftheFlymushroomintheextremenorth,arenot experienced in the same degree in southern Russia. This difference inaction,hethinks,maybeveryproperlyattributedtothevaryingproportionofthe above-mentioned atropin in the mushroom or to the presence ofsubstanceswhichdeveloponlyintheextremenorth.

Thesymptomsofmuscarinpoisoning,apartfromvomitingandpurging,areslowingofthepulse,cerebraldisturbance,contractionofthepupils,salivationandsweating.Incaseofdeath,whichiscausedbysuffocationorasuspensionof heart action, the lungs are found to be filled with air, and there is atransfusionofbloodinthealimentarycanal.

Prof. R. Kobert, in a lecture delivered before the University of Dorpat in1891, states that muscarin is found equally in the Fly mushroom (A.muscaria), the Panther mushroom (A. pantherinus), Boletus luridus, and invarying quantities in Russula emetica. He states also that though highlypoisonous to vertebrates,muscarin is not so to flies, and that the noxiousprincipleinA.muscariawhichkillsthefliesisnotasyetdetermined.

Ithasbeenshownthattheloweranimals,suchassheepandgeese,aswellasman, have been severely poisoned by feeding on the “Flymushroom,” andthatinthecaseofthehorse,experimentshavedemonstratedthateven0.04ofagramme,0.62ofagrain,havecausedmarkedsymptomsofpoisoning.

Formuscarin as for neurin poisoning the antidote is atropin administeredinternallyorbysubcutaneousinjection.

PHALLIN.

The toxic alkaloid of Amanita phalloides Fries (Amanita bulbosa) wasexaminedbyBoudier,whonamed it “bulbosin,” andbyOré,whonamed it“phalloidin,” but their examinations, it is claimed, proved little beyond thefact that it seemed to be in the nature of an alkaloid, identical neitherwithmuscarinnorhelvellicacid.

Oré affirmed that thephalloidin of theAmanita phalloideswas very nearlyrelatedto,andperhapsidenticalwith,strychnine.FromthisviewKobertandothersdissent.

ThepoisonousprincipleofAmanitaphalloideshasrecentlybeensubjectedtovery careful analysis by Prof. Kobert. As a result of a large number ofexperimentsandpost-mortemexaminationsheldonpersonspoisonedbyA.phalloides,Kobert states that the symptoms can be explained uniformly bytheactionofapoison, towhichhegives theprovisionalnameof“phallin.”Thisisanalbuminoussubstancewhichdissolvesthecorpusclesoftheblood,resembling in this and other respects in a remarkable degree the action ofhelvellicacid.

AccordingtoKobertphallinhassofaronlybeenfoundinAmanitaphalloidesand in its varieties verna, mappa, etc. He finds also in this mushroommuscarinandanatropin-likealkaloid.

The symptoms of the phalloides poisoning are complex. Vomiting isaccompaniedbydiarrhœa,coldsweats,faintingattimes,convulsions,endingin coma. There is also fever and a quickening of the pulse. All thesesymptoms, which follow in succession, according to one author, aredependenton twodifferentpoisonoussubstances.The firstmaybeanacridandfixedpoison,foritisfoundafterrepeateddryings,aswellintheaqueousas in the alcoholic extract. The second acts by absorption, and is purelynarcotic.

Phallinhassomeofthepropertiesofthetoxalbuminofpoisonousspiders,andisavegetabletoxalbumin.

It has been remarked that in cases of poisoning by A. phalloides, themushroom has tasted very good, and those poisoned felt well for severalhoursaftereating.

Phalloides poisoning is said to bear a marked resemblance to phosphoruspoisoningandtoacutejaundice.Thereisnoknownantidotetothepoisonous

alkaloidphallin.

According toProf.Kobert’s analyses, the proportion of phallin in the driedmushroom amounts to less than 1%, but its effect on account of itsconcentrationisthemoreintensive.

Extensive experiments made by Kobert with ox blood in regard to thecomparativeactionofdifferentsubstancesintheirpowerofdissolvingtheredbloodcorpusclesdemonstrate thatphallin in this respect exceeds all knownsubstances.Kobertstatesthat“Ifphallinbeaddedtoamixtureofbloodwitha 1% solution of common salt, using the blood of man, cattle, dogs, orpigeons,thebloodcorpuscleswillbeentirelydissolvedbythepoisondilutedto1-125,000.”

Prof.KobertstatesthathehasexaminedthespeciesBoletusedulis,Agaricuscampester, andAmanitaCæsareaanumberof times,butcouldneverdetecttheactionofphallininthem.NeitherhashefounditinA.muscaria.

THEPOISONOUSALKALOIDOFGYROMITRAESCULENTAFRIES(HELVELLAESCULENTAPERS.)

HELVELLICACID.

Prof.KobertwritesofanumberofcasesofpoisoningintheBalticprovincesofRussiabythemushroomHelvellaesculentaPersoon,sometimescalledtheLorchel.ItshouldbeherestatedthattheHelvellaesculentaofPersoonistheGyromitra esculenta of Fries. This mushroom is described as edible andplaced in the edible lists by Dr. M. C. Cooke, Prof. Peck, and otherdistinguished mycologists, who have tested it and found it edible whenperfectlyfresh.

ThepoisonousprincipleofthismushroomwasisolatedandanalyzedbyProf.R.Boehm,ofRussia, in1885.Itwasbyhimdesignatedas“helvellicacid,”andfoundtobesolubleinhotwater.Profs.EugeneBostroemandE.Ponfick,aftergivingsomestudytotheeffectsofthismushroompoison,agreedintheirreportconcerningit,whichistotheeffectthatthequicklydriedH.esculenta(Gyromitra esculenta) is not poisonous, and that the poisonous acid of thefresh ones may be extracted by means of hot water, so that while thedecoction is poisonous the mushroom is not at all so, after the liquid ispressedout.Experimentswiththismushroomweremadebybothauthorsondogs,whichatethemgreedily,butwithoutexceptionthedogswereverysickafterwards.Thesymptomswerenausea,vomiting, jaundice, stoppageof thekidneys,andhæmaglobinuria.Thesymptomsobservedinmancorrespondtothosemanifestedbytheloweranimals.Dissectionshowedthedissolutionofinnumerablebloodcorpuscles.

Prof. Kobert, commenting on the experiments made by Bostroem andPonfick,statesthathehimselfhadbeenfurnishedyearlywithfreshspecimensof “H. esculenta” (G. esculenta) specially gathered for him at Dorpat, andaftermakingvariousexperimentswiththefreshlyexpressedjuicehebecameconvinced that the poisonous principle greatly varies, the juice sometimesoperatingasverypoisonous,andsometimesasonlyslightlyso.Hestatesalsothat the proportion of poison in the mushroom varies with the weather,location,andageofthemushroom.TheinhabitantsofRussiadonoteatthismushroom, but in Germany it is eaten dried or when perfectly fresh, aftercooking,andafterthefirstwaterinwhichitisboiledisremoved.

HelvellicacidisnotfoundinMorchellaesculenta(thetrueMorel),norisit

knowntoexistinanyotherspeciesexceptG.esculenta.Ithasbeenstatedthatthereisnoantidoteforhelvellicpoisoningafterthesymptomshaveappeared.

A specimen of Gyromitra esculenta was forwarded to me from Portland,Maine,byamemberofamycologicalclubof thatcity,whostated that thismushroomwasquiteabundantintheearlyspringinthewoodsnearPortlandandthattheplantswereeatenbythemembersoftheclub,carebeingtakentouse them only when perfectly fresh. Indigestion and nausea followed theeating of old specimens, but the general opinion was “favorable to theGyromitraasanadditiontothetable.”(Seepage6,part2,ofthisseries.)

Prof.Chas.H.Peck,ofAlbany,whileplacingthismushroominhisediblelistas onewhich he had repeatedly tested, advises that it should be eaten onlywhenperfectlyfresh,asnauseaandsicknesshadbeenknowntoresultfromthe eating of specimens which had been kept twenty-four hours beforecooking.

I forwardedanumberofdrawingsof theAmericanspeciesofG.esculenta,together with a dried specimen of the same received fromMaine, to Prof.Kobert, who identified both drawings and specimen as the GyromitraesculentaofFries,synonymouswiththeHelvellaesculentaofPersoon.Prof.KobertalsoinformsmethathefindsthefreshG.esculentaperfectlyharmlesswhen freedof thewaterof the firstboiling.Hesays: “Mywifeand I eat itvery often,when in fresh condition, and after the firstwater inwhich it isboiledispouredoff.”Theactivepoisonousprincipleofthismushroomisthehelvellicacid,whichissolubleinhotwater.Whenthemushroomisgatheredfreshandquicklydrieditisthenalsoinnoxious.Inthisrespectitdiffersfromthe species A. muscaria, in which the poisonous alkaloidmuscarin is notdestroyed in the drying, but remains unchanged for years in the driedmushroom.

The fact that there have been seemingly well-authenticated cases of fatalpoisoningintheeatingofthismushroomshowsthatifusedatallitshouldbeeatenonlywhentheconditionsessentialtosafetyaremostcarefullyobserved,andasthesemushroomsshowvaryingqualities,accordingtolocalconditionsofsoilandclimate,etc.,amateursfindingitinlocalitieswhereithasnotbeenheretofore used should proceed tentatively and with much care beforeventuringtoeatitfreely.

POISONOUSANDDELETERIOUSMUSHROOMSOFTHELACTAR,RUSSULA,ANDBOLETUSGROUPS.

Lactarius torminosus Fries contains in itsmilky juice an acrid resin whichcauses inflammation of the stomach and of the alimentary canal. Whenparboiled and the first water removed, it has been eaten without injuriouseffects. Lactarius plumbeus Bull., Lactarius uvidus Fries, Lactarius turpisWeinn., and Lactarius pyrogalus Bull., all acrid mushrooms, according toKobert,aresimilarlypoisonous.

Of the “Erdschieber” (Lactarius vellereus) and the “Pfefferling” (Lactariuspiperatus Scop.)Kobert says they are eaten in parts ofRussia and in someplacesinGermany,butthatneitherisverysafe.

There is a species ofRussula (R. emetica) very common in woods, easilyrecognizedby its smooth scarlet top,whitegills, andwhite stemandby itsbiting acridity, which, though recorded as poisonous by some authors, isconsideredediblebyothers.Thismushroom,R.emetica,hasbeensubjectedto chemical analysis byKobert,who finds in itmuscarin, cholin, and pilz-atropin invaryingproportions.Kobert states that inGermany it is“rightly”consideredpoisonous,thougheateninRussia,andascribesthefactthatit isnotdeemedpoisonousinthelattercountrytothemannerinwhichitisthereprepared, the poisonous alkaloid being in greater part eliminated byparboilingthemushrooms,andnotmerelypouringoffthewater,butcarefullysqueezingitoutoftheparboiledfungi.

Tothepresence in thismushroomof theneutralizingalkaloid“pilz-atropin”invaryingproportionsmayalsobeattributedinsomemeasurethesafetywithwhich it has been eatenunder certain conditions.R. fœtens andother acridRussulas, as well as Lactars, have been known to produce severe gastro-enteritis.

Considering the foregoing, it would seem the part of prudence at least toavoidsuchoftheLactarsandRussulasashaveanacridorpepperytaste.

Ithinkitwouldbeawiseprecautiontopouroffthewaterofthefirstboilinginthecaseofallmushroomsaboutwhichthereisaparticleofdoubt,whetherrecordedaspoisonousornot.

Lactarius torminosus Fries. Cap fleshy, at first convex, then expanded, atlength depressed in the center, slightly zoned, margin turned inwards, paleochraceous yellow, with flesh-colored mottlings; downy or hairy; gills

whitish, changing topinkishyellow,narrowandclose together; stemequal,stuffed or hollow, pallid or whitish; milk persistently white and acrid. Inwoods and fields. Specimens have been collected in New York,Massachusetts, Maryland, and Virginia. Cap 3 to 5 inches, stem 2½ to 4inches.

Lactarius pyrogalus. Cap fleshy, slightly zoned, smooth, even, and moist,depressed in thecenter,grayish,orcinereous;gillswhiteoryellowish, thin,not crowded; stem short, stout, stuffed, or hollow, sometimes slightlyattenuated towards the root, pallid; flesh white or whitish; milkwhite andextremelyacrid,copious.Bordersofwoodsandmeadows.Thismushroomissometimescalledthe“FieryMilkMushroom.”

LactariusuvidusFries.Capthin,convex,thenplane,andslightlydepressedinthe center, sometimes showing slight umbo,viscid, zoneless, smooth, dingygrayorpallidbrown,marginturnedinwards;gillsnarrowandclosetogether,whiteoryellowish,whencutorbruisedturningapurplishhue;stemstuffedorhollow,viscid, smooth,equalorslightly tapering towards thecap,white;milkwhite,changingtolilac,acrid.Height2to4inches.Cap2to4inchesbroad.Inwoods.

LactariusturpisFries.Capviscid,compact,zoneless,greenishumber,marginclothedwith yellowish down; gills thin, paler than the cap; stemholloworstuffed, stoutish, short, viscid, olive color, slightly attenuated towards thebase;milkwhite,acrid.Firwoods.

Lactariusplumbeus Fries.Cap fleshy, firm,dry, somewhathairy, varying incolor,usuallysomeshadeofbrown;gillsyellowish,thin,andclosetogether;stem solid, equal, lighter in color than the cap; fleshwhite;milkwhite andacrid.

Lactarius vellereus Fries. Fleecy Lactarius. Cap compact, convex orumbilicate, zoneless,minutely downy; margin reflexed, gills white, distant,arcuate;stemshort,solid,pubescent;milkwhite,acrid, somewhatscanty. Inwoods.Wholeplantwhite.

Lactarius piperatus Scop.Peppery Lactarius. Cap fleshy, compact, convexand slightly umbilicate, at last deeply depressed, becoming funnel-formed,smoothandeven;gillsdecurrent,verynarrow,thin,evenandclosetogether,dichotonous,white; fleshwhite;milkwhite,extremely acrid, copious; stemveryshort,stout,solid.Wholeplantwhite.

Lactarius blennius Fries. Cap depressed, slimy or glutinous, greenish-gray;margin incurvedandsomewhatdowny.Gillsnarrow,whiteorwhitish;stemstuffedorhollow,viscid, andof samecolor as the caporpaler;milkwhiteandveryacrid.

M. C. Cooke divides the genus Lactarius into 4 “Tribes”: (1) Piperites, inwhich the stem is central, gillsunchangeable, naked,neitherdiscolorednorpruinose,milkat firstwhiteandcommonlyacrid; (2)Dapetes, inwhich thestemiscentral,gillsnaked,milkfromthefirstdeeplycolored;(3)Russulares,inwhich the stem is central, gills pallid, thendiscolored, becoming darker,changingwhenturnedtothelight,atlengthpruinose,withmilkatfirstwhiteandmildandsometimesbecomingacrid;(4)Pleuropos,inwhichthestemisconcentricorlateral.

To the first of these subdivisions, Piperites, belong all of the Lactarsenumeratedabove.TheRussianseatthePiperitesonlyafterthewaterofthefirstboilinghasbeentakenoff.

Lactarius rufus Scop., a very acrid species of large size, having reddishochraceousgillsandzonelesscapofreddishyellowwithwhitemilk,belongstothesubdivisionRussulares.Commoninfirwoods.Dangerous.

LactariusvolemusFries, a tawnyyellow-cappedmushroomwithwhitegillschanging toayellowishhue,andcopioussweetwhitemilk,belongsalso tothelattersubdivision.Edible.

Russula(Fragiles)emeticaFries.Capfleshy,atfirstconvex,thenexpandedordepressed,smooth,polished,red,marginsulcate;gillsfree,equalandbroad,white;stemsolidbutsomewhatspongyinthecenter,smooth,short,stoutish,whiteorstainedreddish;fleshwhite,sometimesslightlytintedred,underthethinredcuticle.Thecapofthismushroomvariesfromadeeprichcrimsontoapalepinkishred,beingverysubjecttoatmosphericchanges.Specimensareoftenfoundwiththecapwashedalmostwhiteafterheavyrains,orwithbutaslightredspotinthecenter.Thegillsandsporesarepurewhite,andthefleshpepperytothetaste.Iftastedwhenrawthejuiceshouldnotbeswallowed.

The variety Clusii has a blood-red cap, pallid yellowish gills, adnexed,becomingadnate.Sporeswhite.Inwoods.Acrid.Thevarietyfallaxisfragile,withdingyreddishpileusandadnexed,distant,whitishgills.

Besides the above mentioned, there are other acrid Russulas and Lactarswhichareregardedwithsuspicion,thoughnotasyetsatisfactorilytested.

POISONOUSBOLETI.

Several of theBoleti have the reputationof beingpoisonousor deleterious,among themBoletus luridus,BoletusSatanas, andBoletus felleus.Kobert’sanalysisofB.luridusshowsthepresenceofthepoisonousalkaloidmuscarininthismushroom,whilethebitternessofB.felleusshouldmakeonecharyofeatingitinquantity,ifatall.SchmiedebergandKoppedescribeexperiments

made with Boletus Satanas, in which the symptoms experienced closelyresemblethoseofmuscarinpoisoning.

A correspondent living in Georgia, who is quite familiar with the species,writes that he has frequently eaten the yellow form of themuscaria, whencooked,withoutseriousinconvenience.AnothercorrespondentwritesthathehaseatenthespeciesBoletusluridusandBoletusSatanas,aswellasseveralothermushroomsofpoisonousrepute,withperfectimpunity.

Withoutcallinginquestionthetestimonyofpersonswhostatethattheyhavewithimpunityeatenmushroomsgenerallyfoundtobepoisonous,itmustbesaid that even if, through local conditions of soil or climate, the poisonousconstituents of such mushrooms sometimes exist in comparatively minuteproportions,orareneutralizedbyanunusualproportionofmushroomatropinin the plant, or eliminated by some process used in its preparation for thetable,or, finally, ifconstitutional idiosyncrasiesshouldenablesomepersonssafelytoeatwhatispoisonoustoothers,therulethatsucharetobeavoidedshould never be disregarded by the ordinary collector, nor should it bedepartedfromevenbyexperts,exceptupontheclearestevidencethatinthegivencasethedepartureissafe.Itiscertainlythepartofdiscretion,whenindoubt,totakenorisks.

RECENTINSTANCESOFMUSHROOMPOISONING.

About a year ago a physician in Vineland, New Jersey, furnished thefollowing in regard to his personal experience of the effects of mushroompoisoning:“Mywife,daughter,andselfselected,accordingtoanarticleintheEncyclopedia Britannica, what we thought were a nice lot of mushrooms,cookedtheminmilk,andatethemfordinnerwithrelish.Inafewhourswewere vomiting, laughing, and staggering about the house. We could notcontrol ourselves from the elbows to the finger tips, nor our legs from thekneetotheendsofourtoes.Inotherwords,weweredrunkonmushrooms.The mushrooms grew within the shade of Norway spruce and otherornamental trees on the lawn in front of our house. Theywere purewhiteinsideandout;smoothshinytopsthateasilypeeledoff.Thecapswereabouttwoorthreeinchesindiameter,andhadastemofthesamelength.Onthedaybefore, my wife and a friend ate some of these mushrooms raw andexperiencednobadeffects.Thenextdayatnoonweatethemcookedinmilkwithalittlebutter,andtheywereverygood.Abouttwoo’clockourfooddidnotseemtodigestwell,andsoonmydaughter,sixteenyearsofage,vomitedall her dinner. Thenmywife began to feel the effects, and took hot waterfreely, sweet oil, currant wine, and at last an overdose of tartar-emetic. Ofcourse, shewas the sickest of all. Iwas cool andhappy and amused at thesituation,anddrunkfrommyheaddown.Ididnotvomit,andmymushroomsremainedwithmeforatleast48hours.Itooknothingbuthotwaterandsweetoil.Afriendofmydaughter’sofherownagepartookofthemessandhadnotasinglebadsymptom.”

AphysicianfromWestGrove,Pennsylvania,writes:“Idetermined to riskatest of theAmanitamuscaria.Accordingly, twogood-sized specimensweresteamedinbutter.Iateone,andanothermemberofmyfamilyatetheother,feelingthattheconsequencescouldnotbeseriousfromsosmallanamount.About an hour after eating, a sensation of nausea and faintness wasexperienced in both cases, followed by nervous tingling, some coldperspirationandacceleratedandweakenedactionof theheart.Considerableprostration ensued within two hours. Knowing that sulphate of atropin hasprovedthemostsuccessfulremedyfortheactiveprincipleoftheFlyagaric,Amanitamuscaria,a smalldose,one-sixtiethofagrain,was takenbyeach.Considerable relief was experienced within 30 minutes, and all unpleasantsymptomshaddisappearedwithin6hours,withoutrepeatingthemedicine.”

Another case, wherein the antagonism of atropin for muscarin was

demonstrated,was brought to our notice during themonthofSeptember ofthe past year. An entire party of people were badly poisoned by eatingmushrooms,and,althoughadoctorwascalledinverylate,mostofthemweresavedbytheuseofsulphateofatropin.

Itwould seem from the foregoing cases that the intensity and actionof themushroom poison must depend in some degree on the constitution of theindividual,aswellasonthequalityandquantityofthemushroomseaten.Thefirst treatment shouldbe toget ridof thepoison immediately andby everypossiblemeans,soastopreventoratleastarresttheprogressofinflammationofthealimentarycanal,andatthesametimetopreventtheabsorptionofthepoison.Inamajorityofcasestherecoveryofthevictimdependssolelyuponthepromptnesswithwhichvomitingisexcited.Vertigo,convulsions,spasms,andothergravenervoussymptoms,whichordinarilyfollowthecessationofthe most important functions, yield, ordinarily, to the action of an emeticwithout the necessity of ulterior remedies, if taken in time, while thesubstance is yet in the stomach; when it has entered the lower bowelspurgationisnecessary.Sweetoilshouldalwaysbetakenincombinationwithcastoroil,orsuchotherpurgativesasareused.Enemasofcassia,senna,andsulphateofmagnesiahavealsobeenusedwithgoodeffect.

The fatal poisoning of Count Achilles de Vecchj, in November, 1897, byeating theAmanitamuscaria, is so fresh in the public recollection, and thedetailsinregardtoitweresowidelypublishedthroughthenewspaperpress,thatitisunnecessarytotakeupspaceinrecapitulatingthecircumstances.

ThedeathofChungYuTing,in1894,wasoccasionedbyeatingmushroomswhich he had collected in a patch of woods near Washington, D. C., andwhich I identified at the time as Amanita phalloides, sometimes called the“DeathCup.”Hehadeatenveryfreelyofthismushroomanddiedaftergreatsuffering, although ten hours had elapsed before the toxic effects began toshowthemselves.

Sinceithasbeenshownthatvinegarandthesolutionofcommonsalthavethepower todissolve thealkaloidsof thepoisonousmushrooms, it follows thatthe liquor thus formedmust be extremely injurious. It should, therefore, beobviousthatvinegarandsaltshouldnotbeintroducedintothestomachafterpoisonousmushroomshavebeen eaten.The resultwould only be to hastendeath. Ether and volatile alkali are also attended with danger. A physicianshould in all cases be promptly called, and, if muscarin poisoning issuspected,hypodermicinjectionsofthesulphateofatropin,theonlychemicalantidoteknowntobeefficacious,shouldbeadministered,thedosebeingfrom1/180upto1/35ofagrain.Smalldosesofatropincanalsobetakeninternally,toaccelerate heart action. To relieve the pains and irritation in the abdomen

sweetoilandmucilaginousdrinksshouldbegiven.

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Harkness,H.W.PacificCoastFungi,i,iv.SanFrancisco.1885-‘87.

Peck,C.H.Reports of theNewYorkMuseumofNaturalHistory.Albany.1872-‘97.Albany,N.Y.

Ravenel.“FungiCarolinia,”Fasc.:v.90.

Schweinitz,L.deSynopsisfungoruminAmer.borealimediadegentium.4to.Philadelphia.1831.

Taylor,Thomas.MildewoftheNativeGrapeVine.Peronosporaviticola.

——ErysipheioftheEuropeanGrapeVine.

——FungoidDiseasesofthePeachTree.

—— Mildew of the Lilac. Illustrated. An. Report of the U. S. Dept. ofAgriculture,1871,pages110to122,inclusive.

——Black-knotonPlumandCherryTrees.Illustrated.

——BlightandRotofthePotato,“Peronosporainfestans.”Illustrated.

——BlightandSmutinOnions.Illustrated.An.ReportoftheU.S.Dept.ofAgriculture,1872,pages175to198,inclusive.

——PotatoBlightandRot.Pages118to123and251-253.

——New Fungus of the Hawthorn. Rœstelia aurantiaca. Pages 431-433.Illustrated.

——RustoftheOrange.Pages588-594.An.ReportofDept.ofAgriculture,1873.

Taylor,Thomas.FungoidDiseaseoftheCherry.Page173.

——Grape-vineDisease.Page175.

——CranberryScaldandRot.Page171.Illustrated.An.ReportofDept.ofAgriculture,1874.

——FungoidDiseasesoftheCranberry.Page206.

——FungoidDiseases of thePlumandCherry Trees. Pages 119 and 413.An.ReportDept.ofAgriculture,1877.

—— Food Product Reports, Mushrooms, Edible and Poisonous. AnnualReportsofU.S.Dept.Agriculture,1885-1895.

——Student’sHandbookofMushroomsofAmerica,EdibleandPoisonous.

Watt,D.A.P.ProvisionalCatalogueofCanadianCryptogams.

Bulletinsof theBoston,NewYork,andPhiladelphiaMycologicalSocieties.Published in Boston, Mass., New York, N. Y., and Philadelphia, Penn.,respectively.

BIBLIOGRAPHY.TOXICOLOGYOFMUSHROOMS.

Boudier,Emile.Gazettedeshop.Paris.1846.

——MushroomsToxicologicallyConsidered.Paris.1869.

T.HusemannundA.Husemann.“Handb.derToxicologie.”Berlin.1862.

Letellier and Speneux. “Experiences nouvelles sur les Champignonsvénenéuxetc.”Paris.1866.

McIlvaine, Chas. Article on Amanita poisonings, Therapeutic Mag.Philadelphia,1893.

Schmiedeberg and Koppe. “Das Muscarin Das Giftige Alkaloid desFliegenpilzes.”Leipzig.VerlagvonF.C.W.Vogel.1869.

Kobert,Rudolph.“SitzungsberichtederNaturforscher-Gesellschafft.”Dorpat,Russia.1891-‘92.

——LehrbuchderIntoxication.Stuttgard,Germany.

INDEXTOILLUSTRATIONS.No.1.

PlateA. Agaricus(Psalliota)campester.Edible.PlateB. TypesoftheSixOrdersofHymenomycetes.PlateI. RussulavirescensFries.Edible.PlateII. CoprinuscomatusFries.Edible.PlateIII. MarasmiusoreadesFries.Edible.

No.2.PlateC. TypesoffouroftheleadinggeneraofDiscomycetes,in

whichoccurediblespecies.PlateD. FourtypesofthegenusMorchella.Edible.PlateIV. OutlinesketchesshowingstructureoftheAgaricini.PlateV. LactariusdeliciosusFries.Edible.PlateVI. Agaricus(Armillaria)melleusVahl.Edible.PlateVII. CantharelluscibariusFries.Edible.

No.3.PlateE. Outlinesketchesofvariousmushrooms.PlateF. Outlinesketchesshowingcharacteristicsofthelamellæor

gillsofmushrooms.PlateVIII. Ag.(Hypholoma)sublateritiusFries.Edible.PlateIX. Ag.(Hypholoma)incertus(Hypholomaincertum)Peck.

Edible.PlateX. FistulinahepaticaBull.Edible.

No.4.PlateG. SixtypesofthePuff-BallGroup.Edible.PlateH. TwotypesofthesubdivisionPhalloideæ.Unwholesome.PlateXI. Ag.(Lepiota)procerusFries.(Lepiotaprocera.)Edible.PlateXI. Ag.(Lepiota)naucinoidesPeck.Edible.PlateXI½. Ag.(Lepiota)cepæstipes—var.cretaceusPeck(Lepiota

cretacea).Edible.PlateXII. Cortinarius(Inoloma)violaceus.Linn.PlateXII. Cortinarius(Phlegmacium)cærulescensFries.PlateXIII. Figs.1to3,Ag.(Collybiafusipes)Bull.Edible.PlateXIII. Figs.4to6,Ag.(Collybiamaculatus)A.&S.(Collybia

maculata).(AfterCooke.)Edible.PlateXIII. Figs.7to9,Ag.(Collybia)velutipesCurt.(AfterCooke.)

No.5.PlateJ. Ag.(Pleurotus)ostreatusJacq.Edible.PlateXIV. Figs.1to4,Ag.(Amanita)CæsareusScop.(Amanita

Cæsarea).Edible.PlateXIV. Figs.5to9,Ag.(Amanita)rubescensPers.Edible.PlateXIV½. Ag.(Amanita)strobiliformisVitt.Edible.PlateXV. Figs.1to7,Ag.(Amanita)muscariusLinn.(Amanita

muscaria).Poisonous.PlateXV. Fig.8,Ag.(Amanita)phalloidesFries.Poisonous.PlateXV. Fig.9,Ag.(Amanita)mappaBatsch.Poisonous.

CORRECTIONOFPLATES.No.1.

PlateB. Fig.4shouldreadFig.5,Fig.5shouldreadFig.4.

No.2.PlateD. Fig.3,theexposedinnersurfaceofthecap,shouldbe

smooth,notridged,asthestraightlinesintheengravingmightsuggest.

PlateV. ForLactariousreadLactarius.No.3.

PlateVIII. Theredontheuppersurfaceofthecapistoobrightintint.Itshouldbeadullbrick-red.

PlateIX. Fig.6.Thesporesshouldbeadeepertintorbrownishpurple.

Thesporesasdelineatedontheplatesrepresentamagnificationoffrom400to500diameters.

Transcriber’sNotes.Toavoidconfusion,correctionsnotedabovewerenotmade to theplatesortheircaptions.

“Membranaceous,” “membraneous” and “membranous” all appear multipletimes; I left them as is. Similarly for “Hynesboro” and “Hynesbury,”“sebaceus” and “sebæceus,” “subglobose” and “sub-globose,” “center” and“centre,”“network”and“net-work.”

Both “Huseman” and “Husemann” appear; perhaps they refer to the sameperson,butIcouldn’tbesure,soIleftthemasis.

There is little consistency about when names are italicized or placed inquotes.Exceptwherenotedbelow,Ileftthemastypesetintheoriginal.

Changed “filamentose” to “filamentous” on page 7 of part 1: “filamentousnetwork.”

Changed “sub generas” to “subgenera” on page 9 of part 1: “of thesubgenera.”

Changed“Pratelæ”to“Pratellæ”onpage11ofpart1,inDr.M.C.Cooke’ssubdivisions.

Changed“puffball”to“puff-ball”onpage13ofpart1:“andthepuff-ball.”

Changed“II”to“I”onpage17ofpart1tomatchtheillustrations:“illustratedinPlateI.”

Changed“mycophogists”to“mycophagists”onpage18ofpart1:“withmostmycophagists.”

Changed “micaceous” to “micaceus” on page 19 of part 1: “Coprinusmicaceus.”

Changed“plain”to“plane”onpage20ofpart1:“thennearlyplane.”

Changed“parsely”to“parsley”onpage22ofpart1:“withparsleychopped.”

Changed “channeled” to “channelled” on page 23 of part 1: “Canaliculate,channelled.”

Changed “Channeled” to “Channelled” on page 23 of part 1: “Channelled,hollowedoutlikeagutter.”

Changed “clustured” to “clustered” on page 24 of part 1: “little clusteredgrains.”

Changed “charactertistics” to “characteristics” on page 3 of part 2: “thedistinguishingcharacteristics.”

Changed “mushroon” to “mushroom” on page 5 of part 2: “common fieldmushroom.”

Changed“paraphesis” to“paraphyses”onpage7ofpart2:“sporesackandparaphyses.”

Changed“Saac.”to“Sacc.”onpage8ofpart2:“MitrulavitellinaSacc.”

Changed“tetrasporus”to“tetrasporous”onpage9ofpart2:“beingentirelytetrasporous.”

Changed“agaricus”to“Agaricus”onpage16ofpart2:“Agaricusarvensis.”

Changed “mid-western” to “midwestern” on page 17 of part 2: “andmidwesternStates.”

Thearithmeticdoesn’tworkoutrightforthethirdhouseofthePennsylvaniagroweronpage17ofpart2.Perhapsitproduced28,000poundsratherthan2,800.However,Ileftitasitwas.

Removedduplicateword“the”onpage20ofpart2:“addtothemanure.”

Changed“surfare”to“surface”onpage20ofpart2:“surfacebetoodry.”

Changed“POLYPOROUS”to“POLYPORUS”onpage24ofpart2.

Changed “deletereous” to “deleterious” on page 3 of part 3: “classed asdeleterious.”

Changed“yellew”to“yellow”onpage4ofpart3:“neveryellow.”

Changed“flexuous”to“flexuose”onpage4ofpart3:“thin,flexuose.”

TheAnalyticTablestartingonPage6ofpart3waschangedtousenumericcodestoidentifythebranchesinthetreeratherthanthespecialcharacters,forclarityandeliminationofnon-Latin-1characters.

“Massée”appearedonpages5,10and20ofpart3;theywereallchangedto“Massee.”

Changed“Psilosybe”to“Psilocybe”inthetableonpage7ofpart3.

Changed“fibres”to“fibers”onpage8ofpart3:“withminutefibers.”

Changed “Rhodosporhii” to “Rhodosporii” on page 9 of part 3: “sectionRhodosporii.”

“Pleurotos”appearedonpages9and16ofpart3andpage3ofpart5;theywereallchangedto“Pleurotus”forconsistency.

Changed“epyphytal” to “epiphytal”onpage13ofpart3: “epiphytal, oftenstemless.”

Changed“Mushroooms”to“Mushrooms”onpage14ofpart3:“MushroomswithBacon.”

Changed “importatnt” to “important” on page 15 of part 3: “an importantpart.”

Changed“Hymenomycetefs”to“Hymenomycetes”onpage16ofpart3:“thegeneraofHymenomycetes.”

Both “Glœoporus” and “Glœporus” appear. I left both spellings, since Icouldn’tdeterminetheauthor’sintention.

Changed “Basidyomycetes” to “Basidiomycetes” on page 18 of part 3:“AscomycetesandBasidiomycetes.”

Changed“myceluim” to “mycelium”onpage18ofpart 3: “directlyon themycelium.”

Changed “Dacyromycetes” to “Dacryomycetes” on page 19 of part 3: “(1)Dacryomycetes.”

Sometextwasdroppedonpage19ofpart3.Iinsertedanellipsisasaplace-holder:“withoutasci,…sporulesorstylospores.”

Moved semi-colon inside quote three times on page 20 of part 3, forgrammaticalconsistency:‘or“rottingmoulds;”theCystopi,or“whiterusts;”theSaprolegniaceæ,or“fishmoulds;”.’

Changed“Entomothoraceæ”to“Entomophthoraceæ”onpage20ofpart3.

Changed “Uutersuch.” to “Untersuch.” on page 21 of part 3: “Bot.Untersuch.”

Changed “Mongraphie” to “Monographie” on page 21 of part 3:“MonographiedesSaprolegniées.”

Changed“spois”to“spores”onpage23ofpart3,intheentryfortetraspore.

Changed“perethecia”to“perithecia”twiceonpage23ofpart3:“enclosedinperithecia”and“fungiwithoutperithecia.”

Changed“Hyphomecetea”to“Hyphomyceteæ”onpage23ofpart3:“suchastheHyphomyceteæ.”

Changed“rotton”to“rotten”onpage4ofpart4:“rottenwoodorsticks.”

Changed“PuffBall”to“Puff-Ball”incaptiontoPlateG.

Changed “globuse” to “globose” on page 6 of part 4: “sometimes nearlyglobose.”

Changed“fetid”to“fœtid”onpage9ofpart4,forconsistency:“theirfœtidodor.”AlsointhecaptiontoPlateH.

Changed“disc”to“disk”onpage9ofpart4:“thediskisstellate.”

Changed“Phalloideae”to“Phalloideæ”inthecaptiontoPlateH.

Changed“Lycoperadaceæ” to“Lycoperdaceæ”onpage12ofpart4:“III.—Lycoperdaceæ.”

Italicized“Lepiota”onpage13ofpart4,forconsistency:“SubgenusLepiotaFries.”

Changed“cepaestipes”to“cepæstipes”inthecaptiontoPlateXI½:“Agaricus(Lepiota)cepæstipes.”

Changed“coerulescems”to“cærulescens”inthecaptiontoPlateXII.

Removeditalicsfrom“Scop.”onpage23ofpart4:“ClitocybelaccataScop.”

Changed “satanus” to “Satanus” on page 24 of part 4: “Boletus SatanusLenz.”

Changed “Beef-steak” to “Beefsteak” on page 24 of part 4: “BeefsteakFungus.”

One of the plates was labeled with script letter I, to differentiate it fromRomannumeralI.IchangedscriptletterItouppercaseletterJ.

Changed “Caesareus” and “Caesarea” to “Cæsareus” and “Cæsarea”,respectively, in the caption to Plate XIV: “Ag. (Amanita) Cæsareus, Scop.

(AmanitaCæsarea).”

Removed italics from “Roze” on page 9 of part 5, twice: “SubgenusAmanitopsisRoze”,“AmanitopsisvaginataRoze.”

Changed“mappá”to“mappa”incaptiontoPlateXV:“Ag.(Amanita)mappaBatsch.”

The footnote on page 12 of part 5 had no anchor in the text. I attached itwhereIthoughtitmadethemostsense.

Changed“Washington,D.D.”to“Washington,D.C.”onpage21ofpart5.

Removeditalicsfrom“Linn.”onpage22ofpart5:“Linn.Journ.”

Italicized “Grevillea” on page 22 of part 5: ‘“North American Fungi” inGrevillea.’

Addedclosingquoteonpage23ofpart5toBibliographyentryforLetellier.

Changed“Psaliota”to“Psalliota”onpage23ofpart5:“Agaricus(Psalliota)campester.”

PlateXVIisomittedfromtheindextoillustrations;sinceIwasn’tsurehowtheauthorwouldhavewantedtodescribeit,Ileftitout.

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