66 



Our I'epresentative of the morel is before you, but those that ai'e 

 acquainted with the true species will observe that this form has an 

 undulated, irregular, gyrose pileus, while the true species has an ovate 

 pileus with firm ribs surrounding deep pits. In colour this species is 

 browner, and as an article of food not so pleasant to the taste. This 

 form is named Gyfomitra esculenta, or the edible gyromitra, while the 

 morel is named Morchella esculenta. Early in spring this species may 

 be found in some profusion in most woods in the vicinity of the city, 

 and was particularly abundant in the woods at the back of Kideau 

 Hall last May and June. Besides these, I have gathered two species 

 of helvella at Belleville, both of which are esculent. Closely related 

 to these are the truffle family, which are of such economic importance 

 in the South of Europe, but of which we have no representatives. 



There is still another section which claims more than a passing; 

 notice. I mean the puff-balls. These forms, which are included in thp 

 genus lycoperdon, are, according to Professor Peck, all esculent when 

 gathered young and cooked before the spores turn yellow. One species, 

 Lycoperdon giganteum, grows to an enormous size, and specimens are on 

 record which were over three feet in diameter. Professor Peck men- 

 tions one that was a little over eight feet in circumference and weighed 

 47 lbs. He says it looked at a distance like a small boulder, and would 

 make a meal for a good sized family. One writer recommends that 

 when one of these large ones is found only a part of it should be taken 



enough for a meal — and another pait next day, and so on. In this. 



way one of them might serve a family for a week. It is said that 

 when the growing plant is wounded the wounds heal and are filled up 

 with new tissue. 



Another species, the cup-shaped puff-ball, is very abundant on our 

 western pi-airies, forming great rings with the edible mushroom. In 

 summer of 1879, when exploring on the plains northwest of Qti'Ap- 

 pelle, we came upon multitudes of this species, i-anging in size from a 

 man's fist to his head, and the same species was gathered in thousands 

 north of the Cyprus Hills and west of Strong Current Creek. Mush- 

 rooms being in myriads, we did not eat many messes of puff-balls, for 

 when a man ate a mallard and about half a peck of mushrooms at a 

 sitting he had cpiite sufficient for one meal. * -1^ ;}; * * 



