WHY WE SHOULD XOT EAT FUNGUSES. 



By the Kev. J. D. LA TOUCHE. 



[The following paper, wUcli may be termed "A Counterblast to Funguses," 

 ■was sent to the Central Committee with a half -expressed apology for sending it, 

 and a modest wish that it might be allowed to be read. The Committee gladly 

 ■welcomed it. The AVoolhope Club advocates the edible vii-tues of agarics with aa 

 amount of zeal which is, jierhaps, always required, when prejudice has to be 

 overcome, and yet, a zeal tempered with caution. The Club has ever held that 

 it is with funguses, as it is with other plants, some are edible and some are 

 poisonous ; and the same knowledge to tlistingiush between the wholesome and 

 the deleterious which is in daUy use with other plants, is required also for fun- 

 guses, and nothing more.] 



It is said that at Rome, when a mortal is about to be raised to the dignity 

 of sainthood the precaution is taken of providing a " devil's advocate," who, by 

 pointing out as strongly as he can, all the faults of the candidate secures the 

 fair discTission of both sides of the question, and is a guarantee, moreover, that 

 no unworthy aspu-ant to such exalted honours should be rashly admitted to 

 them. 



On the present occasion I make bold to present myself in this unamiable 

 capacity. No member, indeed, of this respected Club is seeking canonization, 

 yet, a step, not perhaps less important, is contemplated in the enrolment of a 

 hitherto despised and even abhon-ed member of the vegetable kingdom among 

 the list of its edible products ; indeed, some may consider such a step as of more 

 importance to our race than the apotheosis of a peccant mortal ; and therefore it 

 would appear that, if in the one instance it is desirable that all the peccadilloes 

 of the candidate should be exposed, a fortiori it must be so in the other. 



Let me, then, first observe that these gentlemen at the bar have actually 

 a very bad character, and that it is not likely that tliis would be the case unless 

 they were really great sinners. 



Here, some will exclaim, no doubt, " Prejudice, my dear Sir ! vulgar pre- 

 judice, is capable of the grossest injustice — ignorant prejudice has driven from 

 our tables a delicious article of food and deprived the poor of a wholesome diet." 

 It is often said that he was a brave man who first eat an oyster, and traly a more 

 iminviting mouthful than it was, could scarcely be imagined ; and yet the fact 

 that it is good and wholesome, soon disposed of any prejudice against it. And 



