^yILD MUSHROOMS AS FOOD 



32' 



Its large size and the violet or lilac tint 

 of all its parts should distinoiiisli it 

 from most other species. In large, ma- 

 ture specimens, the flesh becomes soft 

 and readily absorbs water during wet 

 weather, which somewhat changes the 

 appearance of the mushroom and less- 

 ens its value for edible purposes. 



''Perplexing" Hijpholoiita. — Convex to 

 nearly plane, clustered, five to eight centi- 

 meters broad; surface smooth, dry, brick- 

 colored to bay, the margin cream-colored to 

 ochraceous; flesh usually of mild flavor, 

 sometimes bitter, white or nearly so, becom- 

 ing yellowish with age; gills sometimes 

 slightly greenish, and finally purplish brown ; 

 stem straw-colored above, ochraceous or 

 reddish below, six to ten centimeters long, 

 five to seven millimeters thick. 



The "perplexing" Hypholoma occurs 

 abundantly on stumps and roots of de- 

 ciduous trees in autumn, appearing in 

 conspicuous reddish clusters of consid- 

 erable size. It is edible, but not very 

 good in quality, being useful because of 

 its late appearance. In collecting this 

 species for food, young and fresh speci- 

 mens of mild flavor should be selected, 

 and they should be cooked for at least 

 thirty minutes. Soaking in water with 

 a little vinegar for twenty minutes ho- 

 fore cooking improves the flavor. 



Common Mushroom. — Convex to ex- 

 panded, five to nine centimeters broad ; sur- 

 face dry, silky, and whitish, or floccose- 

 squamulose and light reddish brown, the 

 color being chiefly in the scales ; flesh white, 

 thick, solid, of mild flavor, sometimes becom- 

 ing reddish when broken; gills white when 

 young, becoming salmon-pink, and finally 

 brown or blackish ; spores dark brown ; ring 

 delicate, inconspicuous, formed from a thin, 

 white veil, Avhich covers the gills in their 

 younger stages; stem smooth, white, three to 

 six centimeters long, one and one half to two 

 centimeters thick. 



The common mushroom occurs in 

 low grass in meadows or on rich, moist, 

 u phi lid ])astures, being common after 

 rains from August to October in tliis 

 latitude. The "spawn,"" or vegetative 

 portion, is hidden in the soil and feeds 

 upon the dead organic matter found 



therein. In tlie cultivation of this spe- 

 cies. l)ricks of s])awn are planted in 

 suital)le soil and the conditions of 

 growth attended to with great care.^ 

 This is the musliroom usually found in 

 market, either in the fresh stage or in 

 cans. ]Mo8t i)ers()ns who collect fungi 

 for food in the fields limit themselves to 

 this one species. Great care must be 

 taken not to get young plants of the 

 deadly amanita when collecting "but- 

 tons"" of the common mushroom at the 

 edge of woodlands. Also beware of the 

 poisonous Panceolus which may appear 

 in mushroom beds. 



Common Tn]i--ra/). — Ovoid to bell- 

 shaped, finally expanding and deliquescing, 

 densely clustered, three to six centimeters 

 broad; surface smooth or slightly scaly, 

 especially on the disk, grayish or brownish, 

 often with a yellowish tint, blackening with 

 age; flesh white, quickly deliquescing; gills 

 white Avhen young, soon becoming black and 

 dissolving; spores black; stem slender, 

 smooth, Avhite, five to ten centimeters long. 



The common ink-cap is an excellent 

 edil)le species and is quite common in 

 rich soil on lawns and elsewhere during 

 late summer and autumn. As it appears 

 in close clusters, it may usually be ob- 

 tained in greater abundance than the 

 shaggy-mane. Owing to its deliques- 

 cent character, it must be cooked very 

 soon after it is collected. 



Shaggif-mane. — At first oblong, ex- 

 panding and deliquescing with age, four to 

 six centimeters in diameter; surface shaggy, 

 white, with yellowish or brownish scales, 

 tinged with lilac in places, grayish black on 

 the margin, blackening with age; flesh white, 

 tender, of nutty flavor; gills white when 

 young, soon changing to pink, then to black, 

 and finally melting away into an inky fluid; 

 spores black; ring white, small, movable or 

 slightly adhering, often falling away at an 

 early stage; stem slender, smooth, white, 

 seven to twelve centimeters long. 



The sliaggy-nume is a very conspicu- 

 ous object on lawns in autumn, al- 

 tliough it is not always so abundant as 



' Tlie United States Department of Agriculture 

 at Washington, D. C. will gladly furnish informa- 

 tion regarding the cultivation of mushrooms in cel- 

 lars during the wiiUer months. 



