describer of any given fungus differed from Fries, in which case it seemed fair to restore the neime frst 

 given to the frst ^jlace,) and if any objections are raised, we beg they may be laid before the learned 

 Professor of Upsal. 



Of the four esculent Russulas, two, Agaricus vescus and A. lepidus (Fries), are more or less red, and 

 one or other of these is meant, perhaps botli are, when authors speak vaguely of " the Russula," " Le Eousset 

 comestible," as good for food ; in contradistinction, " Verdette " is the name given to those in which 

 green prevails, A. heteropliyllus and A. virescens ; formerly considered as the same, or mere varieties, but 

 differing in some points looked upon now as essential to the botanical distinction of species, although not 

 glaring enough to be appreciable by country collectors or cooks. Of these Verdettes, one is A. virescens 

 of Fries, A. arugi/iosa of Krombholz, the latter an excellent name, as the hue is that of verdigris, cold and 

 bluish, " like that of the foliage of pinks " (Paulet), occasionally the centre, which is depressed in age, 

 has a russet, yellowish tinge, but the great distinction is one quite immistakeable, the epidermis of the 

 pileus is corrugated into toarts, leaving polygonal interstices between them, a peculiar character, belonging to 

 the always dry cuticle of this delicate Agaric, which altogether has strikingly the air of a waxen compo- 

 sition. Our present " Verdette " is at first rather viscid, entirely destitute of this warty appearance, and 

 yellower, with a dull tinge of lake-red minghng among the green and yellow, so as to present a livid shade ; 

 cowering down in the mossy grass, its white stem invisible, it looks, in the unexpanded state, very like an 

 apple which has not received the colouring rays of the sun. Among the non-esculent Russulas, some are 

 red and white, without any yellow, some yellow, white, and even orange-coloured, without any distinct 

 red. — With none of these can A. heterophjlhis be confounded. There is one dangerous member of the 

 family, A.furcatus, which is green, of various shades and brightness, but the type of the gills is different, 

 being adjiato-decurrent ; a simpler statement will warn the world at large sufficiently — it is hitter. This 

 is given by BulHard, and his figure has been mistaken for the Verdette proper — or A. virescetis, bringing 

 thereby that excellent Agaric into reproach. 



A. heterophyllus of Dr. Badham's ' Esculent Funguses ' is the heterophyllus of Vitadini, which that 

 author designates heterophyllus of Fries ; since the pubhcation of his ' Funghi Mangerecei,' however, the 

 Epicrisis of Fries has modified in some cases, the nomenclature in liis Systema, and A. vescus and our 

 present subject are divided from each other — in the Italian work they are confounded. It is only needful 

 to state that the main difference consists in \\).& flesh of the pileus, immediately beneath the ejndermis, being 

 stained mth purplish red in K.. vescus — in A. heterophyllus it is pure white; both are among the most 

 delicate and wholesome of funguses ; a consumptive patient, scarcely able to endure food of any kind, not 

 relished, but digested easily, both of these species of Russula, partaking of them as often as found, during 

 a whole season. 



The best way to cook them is to heat a frying pan, rub a little fresli butter on it, and fry them lightly 

 and quickly, till dry and slightly browned. 



