The Plant World 



A MONTHLY JOURNAL OF POPULAR BOTANY 



OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE WILD FLOWER PRESERVATION SOCIETY 



OF AMERICA. 



Vol. V. NOVEMBER, 1902. No. 11. 



MUSHROOMS. 



By a. M. Longenkckkr. 



THERE is an apparent hatred, at least a gastronomic prejudice, 

 against a group of plants wliicli embellish our lawns, fields and 

 forests. This group of plants is known commonly as the mush- 

 rooms. Very few persons undertake to investigate these little plants, yet 

 when one begins a study of them there dawns upon him a field of real 

 interest, both intellectual and utilitarian. Many believe that a study of 

 these fleshy products of Dame Nature belongs wholly to natural science, 

 and can only be pursued by the skilled scientist ; others deem it almost 

 suicide to touch mushrooms. Let us at once lay aside this prejudice 

 and enter into more pleasant relations with our little mushroom friends. 

 Birds, insects, flowers, trees, stones, all are becoming themes for 

 the intellectual man ; why not mushrooms ? The reason no more atten- 

 tion is paid to the mushroom world, is that nearly all are said to be 

 " poisonous stuff " and not to be touched. Let us take the diametrically 

 opposite view and state with the utmost sincerity and with experience 

 in this line of work, that only a comparative few of our mushrooms are 

 poisonous and that most of them are edible. We also often hear the 

 statement that there are mushrooms and toadstools. The toad may have, 

 at some time in the mystic past, used these little plants as croaking pil- 

 lars, but they no longer in an enlightened world attempt such feats. 

 There are no toadstools — unless we say that all mushrooms are toad- 



