100 THE AMERICAN BOTANIS'l 



SO as not to touch the stem at all. The stem may be fleshy or 

 fibrous, solid or hollow, adorned with a ring around the top, 

 or inserted in a cup at the base, or both the last named feat- 

 ures may be present in the one specimen, — in which case be- 

 ware ! 



Every one accustomed to the woods knows that fungi may 

 be found almost anywhere, in the meadows, in old pastures, 

 about old buildings, among shady bushes, in the deepest wood- 

 lands, on the ground and on wood in all stages of decay. It 

 is a matter of equally common obsen-ation that fungi grow 

 most abundantly during the cooler months, even into the 

 depths of winter. On the fifteenth of Januar}^ last I gathered 



a large pan full of the savorj^ oyster mushrooms. 



To those interested in fungi otherwise than from a botan- 

 ical standpoint, the first question presenting itself is how to 

 tell the ones good to eat. To ansv/er the question by a sim- 

 ple rule for determining would immediately brand its author as 

 an unreliable guide in the matter. The only rule I ever heard 

 which seems to be thoroughly reliable is, "Eat them and if 

 you live they are edible, and if you die they are poisonous." 

 Since mushrooms are not a necessity, to the average person, 

 the application of the above rule seems hardly practical. One 

 should know mushrooms before attempting to eat them. 

 Many varieties are good eating and truly a great delicacy, 

 others are harmless and without flavor, while some few are 

 extremely poisonous. If one is interested from the culinary 

 standpoint, a little patient observation, together with study 

 of a good book on the subject will give much of the desired 

 information and incidentally reveal a new pleasure. 

 Nezv Brighton, N. Y. 



