both these tints, in fact, is near the truth ; we, speaking femininely, should call the colour " French white," 

 and by this title any lady can point out the precise hue. The fact of the coloured spores decided the question ; 

 it is a new Agaric, and from its agreeable smell, like that of the herb known as Tarragon {Artemisia 

 (Iracunadus), Mr. Berkeley has named it " Euosmus" or sweet-scented. This history proves the value of the 

 colour of the spores, as an infallible test ; it w-as not attended to formerly, and therefore, although as Fries 

 says A. ostreatus may have been painted a hundred times, it by no means foUows that a genuine specimen 

 sat for the portrait. Vittadiui, although writing professedly on Esculent Funguses, has made a confusion 

 in his account of A. ostreatus ; he says the spores are " bianco-porporino," but that applies only to our 

 A. euosmus; this ItaUan author had doubtless often eaten the true ostreatus, (wliich he praises liighly,) 

 without noticing the spores, afterwards observing an analogous specimen with lilac spores, he set that down 

 as a characteristic of A. ostreatus, instead of a distinction from it, which it is. This is not the only error 

 committed by Vittadiui, whose book is beautiful, but not exact. No one is Ukely to be poisoned by 

 A. 7nelleus, which he recommends as eatable, because — it would be impossible to eat it : some have tried, 

 and it is clear there is a great mistake. Probably the " Giallo buono" is A. caudicinus of Trattinick, a 

 very good article for the table, greatly resembling a refined growth of A. melleus, before it bursts the veil, 

 but easily distinguishable afterwards, for the non-esculent fungus has white spores, and A. caudicinn-s 

 ferruginous ones. Having eaten the vulgar " Giallo buono," then, Vittadiui must afterwards as he sup- 

 posed, have recognised and depicted it — but his drawing is A. inelleus, Tetes de Meduse, a most offensive, 

 and, selon Mons. Paulet, most poisonous species. 



This is mentioned not from any love of finding fault, but where esculent funguses are in question it 

 becomes a duty to warn against authority which cannot be depended upon. We could not eat A. euosmus 

 when cooked, therefore if it be unwholesome had a narrow escape, for instead of considering the lilac spores 

 as a verdict against it, on the strength of Vittadini''s recommendation, and that very hue being a decided 

 identification with his plant — we had it cooked ; at that time we had faith in him, making frequent allowances 

 of "climate," and "soil," and other particulars which possibly caused a diff'erence between Italian and 

 EngKsh Funguses ; we can only say now, happily unwholesome Funguses are generally revolting, or 

 Signor VittacUni would have had to answer for serious mischief to his simple pupils. 



To return to Agaricus euosmus, it is possible it might be very good pickled, its consistency being 

 tougher than is agreeable in a stew. 



The species of Artemisia called dracunculus, and known by the vulgar name Tarragon, is doubtless 

 familiar to all our readers who possess " a garden for herbs ; " if not, we counsel them to give it a place, 

 under a south wall ; when the spring shoots are in full vigour, cram them fresh gathered into wine- 

 bottles ; putting in as much of the herb as possible ; add to each bottle a tablespoonful of salt, and fill up 

 with vinegar. This is an elegant adjunct to salad, &c., and mixed with the ketchup we have given a 

 recipe for, makes the basis of excellent table sauce. 



