217 



from which the drawing was made, too, was unusually symmetrical. No 

 species of Fungus grows more irregularly, often contorted and twisted, bulging 

 out unduly in one place, and puckered up in another. It varies, too, con- 

 siderably in colour, from the lightest fawn to a deep chestnut or reddish 

 brown colour ; but, as has been happily said, when once known it is never 

 mistaken, for however unlike itself it may sometimes grow, it is always much 

 more unlike anything else. 



There are two clear general rules with reference to this tribe of Funguses, 

 and the first is to reject every Boletus as dangerous if a blue tinge passes over 

 the surface of the flesh when it is cut or broken ; and secondly, to reject them 

 also if the tube-surface is red or scarlet ; and thus the really dangerous kinds- 

 some of them very common — are at once set aside. It must be added, never- 

 theless, that the greatest Italian authority, Vittadini, is of opinion that no 

 Boletus is really unsafe, if dried. "Slips of dried Boletus" he says, "sold 

 on strings, are as frequently cut from Boletus luridus and Boletus cyanescens 

 as from Boletus ed id is itself ; notwithstanding which, no accident was ever known 

 to happen from the indiscriminate use of either." "Before I properly knew 

 Boletus edulis," says Mr. Worthington G. Smith, " I ate all sorts of Boleti 

 in mistake for it, notably Boletus chrysenteron." (Mushrooms and Toadstools, 

 p. 23.) 



Still, the rule holds good. Reject without hesitation all that are red or 

 scarlet on the tube-surface beneath, and all that turn in the least blue on being 

 cut, for certainly several that do so are dangerous in their fresh condition, 

 even though they may be rendered safe by drying. 



Boletus edulis is one of the earliest Funguses to appear, and in favourable 

 seasons may be found at any time during the summer months, or in early 

 autumn. It cannot be said to be very common in Herefordshire. It is widely 

 scattered through the county, but grows usually in small quantities. Some 

 seasons, however, it is very abundant in places, and on Dinedor Hill Common 

 under the oak trees, beneath the beech trees at Whitfield, and probably in many 

 other places, a wheelbarrow full at a time may be gathered. At Haywood 

 Forest, The Mynde Park, Bryngwyn, Dinmore, Bredwardine, and in many other 

 scattered localities, specimens are annually to be found in more or less abundance. 

 When found it should be gathered, for it seems here to be a delicate fungus, 

 liable to be quickly affected by mildew, without any cause easily to be assigned 

 for it. 



It is readily dried when cut into pieces, and is "adapted," says 

 Vittadini, " above every other fungus for commerce. It forms in not a few 

 provinces in Lombardy one of the principal resources of the poor people," 



