nnd taste of a fungus au infiilliUle i;uiJc. The most practical way of doing this, 

 l>eihap3, would be to begin witli the Edible Funguses, and by presenting to the 

 members carefully-coloured illustrations of some of the best of those which grow 

 in this county, to prevent the possibility of a mistake in their recognition. At 

 the same time, their proper characters could be given in the letter-press, with 

 precise directions for properly cooking them. If, for example, they could this 

 year give good coloured pictures of Agaricus procerus, Lactarius deliciosus, and 

 Marasmius Orcades, he thought they would be highly appreciated by all the 

 members of the club. It would be impossible for them to do this, however, 

 without the assistance of ladies to colour them — that is to say, the club could 

 not afford to pay for their being coloured. The ladies had done much for last 

 year's volume, and were most kindly again prepared to help with this one, so 

 that the committee did not despair of accomplishing it. The illustrations to 

 the paper read, too, were so beautifully drawn and coloured, that if Mrs. Key 

 would be so kind as to help them, an artist in addition would be added to the 

 list, ia whose work no failure need be feared. It was, however, no light matter 

 to colour six hundred lithographs, and he hoped that other ladies would be kind 

 enough to volunteer assistance and help with a few of them. The real importance 

 of a knowledge of the characters of funguses will be best shown by a quotation 

 from Dr. Badham's work on the " Esculent Funguses of England." After 

 speaking of the pleasure of searching for them he says : " In such rambles he 

 will see what I have this autumn (1847) myself witnessed, whole hundred- 

 weights of rich ivhoksome diet rotting under the trees ; woods teeming with food, 

 and not one hand to gather it ; and this, perhaps, in the midst of potato blight, 

 poverty, and all manner of privations, and public prayers against famine. I have 

 indeed grieved, when I reflected on the straightened condition of the lower 

 orders this year, to see pounds innumerable of extempore beef-steaks growing on 

 our oaks in the shape of Fistulina hepatica; Agaricus fusipes to pickle, in 

 clusters under them. Puff-balls, which some of our friends have not inaptly 

 compared to sweet-bread for the rich delicacy of their unassisted flavour ; Hydna 

 as good as oysters, which they somewhat resemble in taste ; Agaricus delicosus, 

 reminding us of tender lamb-kidneys ; the beautiful yellow Chanterelle, that 

 Kalon kagathon of diet, growing by the bushel, and no basket but our own 

 to pick up a few specimens by the way; the sweet nutty-flavoured Boletus, in 

 vain calling himself Edulis where there was none to believe him ; the dainty 

 Orcella ; the A. heterophyllus which tastes like the craw fish when grilled ; the 

 A. ruber, and A. virescens to cook in any way and equally good in all ; these were 

 among the most conspicuous of the trouvailles " (page 151). 



If the club thought it desirable, the Central Committee would do the 

 best they could to draw up the letter-press to accompany the pictures, and get 

 them properly coloured, with the kind assistance of ladies. 



The Pkesident thought there could be no doubt about that. It was a 

 very important subject and one that could not fail to do credit to the club, and 

 prove of great utility. He was sure they would wish him to give the thanks of 



