raost delicate valetudinarian need seek no further for a wholesome dish, provided he add to it no deleterious 

 seasoning, and what seasoning can he want ? Well ! We have sometimes thought, when making a very 

 acceptable luncheon in our Whittlebury forest rambles, that if we had providently brought out a little salt, 

 it would have given piquancy to the raw mushrooms ! Tliis smooth variety of A. campesiris loses the 

 brilliant whiteness of its pileus in age, turning pale silvery brown, but is never scaly or rough ; it makes the 

 finest flaps in its perfect expansion, and the most dehcate globular buttons in youth ; its flesh is pure white. 



The second kind of Mushroom has a thick spongy veil and sub-persistent ring, the epidermis is scaly 

 and shaggy, beneath Mhich the flesh has a roseate flush ; the shape is seldom regular ; the flesh is 

 much thicker in proportion, and altogether it has the air of having been fed on a coarser pabuliun than the 

 first ; it has also decidedly a coarser flavour, but is quite wholesome. It grows commonly round London 

 and is that depicted by Sowerby as A. campestris ; it neither forms neat compact little buttons, nor splendid 

 ])lane flaps for broiling, being generally irregularly and imequally developed from the impediments of 

 pebbles in the soil, or constricting grass roots, at an early period. This variety however may be strongly 

 recommended for ketchup, which it afl'ords very copiously while yet in the pink state ; and it makes very 

 wholesome stews, although the epicure will detect as much difference in flavour between this and its rival, 

 as between the fat mutton and the wild venison of their different native districts. " Cultivation and dung 

 give them without doubt more flesh and body, those grown on a hot-bed (champignons de couche) are as 

 if bloated (boursoufle) with substance." (Traite des Champ. Paulet). The cuUivafed mushroom has a 

 coarser more persistent veil, is extremely thickened in flesh and stem, while the gills are pale and narrow. 

 (Jwing to the slowness of its growth it is tough and indigestible, and the flavour is as inferior as the materials 

 given to produce it, — musty straw in a cellar, or what other nook in the shape of pit or box or out of the way 

 dungeon, can be afl'orded to the gipsey child of the sunny woodland pasture. Tout soil, foul air, foul moisture ! 

 no wonder mushrooms are considered unwholesome ! Personally, the only time they caused illness was when 

 a kind offering was sent to the " Mycologist " from a neighboiu's hot bet in mid-M inter ; and as in duty 

 hound we have always since warned against them. 



A remarkable Agaric, scarcely at first recognisable for a Mushroom, we have found for several successive 

 seasons piercing through a bank of gravel at the foot of an elm by the road side, the debris from extensive 

 farm-offices being bttered all about ; the affinity of these specimens w'as evidently with the cultivated ones, 

 indeed we might call them with Paulet, " champignons de couche francs" or uild hot bed mushrooms. 

 In the button state the pressure of the gravel had cracked the pileus into irregular polygons ; afterwards it 

 became marked in concentric rows with strong brown scales, the substance was extremely sohd, the stem 

 corky, and a vinous tint pervaded the flesh when cut ; the dimensions were enormous, from fourteen to 

 eighteen inches across. These large individuals made the most exquisite ketchup, the smaller ones were good 

 for the table ; where the cows grazed and farming litter occupied the ground, in Marylebone Fields, now 

 stand hundreds of mansions and very little trace of rustic life remains ; in the grounds of the Adult 

 Orphan asylum however is one remarkable token : annuall_v, the pupils enjoy a regale of excellent mushrooms 

 \<\\\c\\ appear on the premises very punctually, none having ever been artificially placed there. This fact 

 excited the attention of a botanical as well as benevolent friend. Miss Hall, who brought some for inspection . 

 they are unquestionably this same " champignon de coucht franc" rather smoky. 



Besides these which we have noticed, no other English variety of A. campestris has been discovered. 

 All other funguses called " Mushroom " come under A. arvensis, having Jwllow or piiped stems and a disposi- 

 tion to change yellow. A. campestris has no tinge of yellow nor does it acquire it by salting, and the stem is 

 never naturally piped or channelled, though it may grow hollow by decay in old age. These simple rules for 

 distinguishing being laid down, any unusual Agaric of the family may at once be referred to its proper head, 

 and although some species of Arvensis are questionable in character, all the members of A. campestris are 

 safe. 



