466 



The Meadow Mushroom (Edibee) 



Agaricus cam pest r is Linn. 



Agaricus cauipcstris is the common "pink-gill mushroom" that is 

 alwavs obtainable in the market either fresh or in cans. Some people 

 call this a mushroom and all others toadstools, erroneously thinking 

 that this is the only one that is good to eat. It is produced in culti- 

 vation in great quantities not only in this country but in several others, 

 especially France. Japan, and China. It is said that as many as 75 

 tons are annually produced in Chicago alone. 



This mushroom occurs wild also, and is probably more widely 

 known and collected for food than any other. It grows in fields and 

 pastures and in lawns and along roadsides from July to October. 



The cap is 4 to 12 cm. ( 1.5 to 5 inches) broad, at first somewhat 

 globular, then round-convex, and, finally, expanded and nearly flat. 

 The surface is at first nearly smooth but has a soft silky appearance 

 because of numerous loose fibers. As the mushroom becomes older 

 the surface sometimes liccomes more or less scaly. The color varies 

 from white to creamv white or light brown. The flesh is white. The 

 margin of the cap extends somewhat beyond the ends of the gills. 



The gills are close together, free from the stem, and rounded at 

 the inner end. They are for some time hidden by the inner veil. When 

 they are first revealed by the separation of the veil they are pink in 

 color, but as the spores mature the gills graduallv become purple- 

 brown or blackish brown. The spores are dark brown or nearly black 

 with a purple tinge. 



The stem is 3 to 10 cm. ( i to 4 inches) long, nearly cylindrical 

 or tapering somewhat toward the lower end, and white or whitish in 

 color. The inner veil from which the ring is formed is white, silky, 

 and very thin and frail. Often-a part (»f it remains as fragments on 

 the edge of the cap, while the ring which is formed from it on the 

 stem is so frail that it shrivels as the mushroom matures and some- 

 times disappears entirely. There is no volva. 



Although these mushrooms can be purchased in the market at any 

 time at from fifty cents to one dollar a pound, any one who will take 

 the trouble to learn the distinguishing characteristics of this and a few 

 other species can keep his table supplied throughout the growing sea- 

 son at a cost only of the time it takes to collect them. 



Collected in Champaign county. 



