MUSHROOM GROWING 



Other parts of the pileus, and sometimes of 

 the stem, when fully mature, to an inky 

 black liquid. Besides numerous small eva- 

 nescent species there are three interesting 

 edible forms of common occurrence, ap- 

 pearing usually in lawns and along road- 

 ways in the spring and fall. 



The largest is Coprinus comatus, the 

 Shaggy Mane Mushroom (Plate VII, b), 

 considered by many to be one of the best of 

 the fungi. The plant, including stem, is 

 often 6 to 8 inches in height, with an al- 

 most cylindrical cap frequently not less than 

 3 inches long and i^^ inches in diameter. 

 The common name is derived from the 

 shaggy scales which are conspicuous on the 

 pileus. With approaching maturity the 

 gills assume a salmon color and then the 

 pileus begins gradually to deliquesce from 

 the margin towards the region of attach- 

 ment to the stem. In this species there is 

 also a free, or movable ring. This plant has 

 an excellent flavor, but the soft texture of 

 this, as well as of the other coprini men- 



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