214 Mycological Bulletin No. M [Vol. IV 



"QUOTATION PAGE." 



Qt'OiATiON. — We find a popular article in an eastern newspaper that 

 is not devoid of interest for would-be mycopliagists. The author is Mr. 

 Edward B. Sterling, Trenton, New Jersey: 



"Mushrooms or Toadstools ; Rules — For years the following 

 apothegTi'.s have been handed down l^y those Avho should know better, and 

 are still believed by many a housewife and mushroom gatherer. 



"If you eat it and live, it is a 'mushroom;' otherwise die, because it is 

 a "toadstool.' 



"If it grows in a 'dark place,' or on 'wood,' reject it. 



"If your mushroom turns a silver spoon 'black,' it is unfit to eat. 



Throw it away. 



"If "'salt' changes the 'color,' it must be poisonous. Drop it. 



"If the .skin 'peels' off easily, it certainly is an edible mushroom. 



"Such nonsense has repeatedly been uttered in my presence. I have 

 also heard, 'You will yet find a toadstool that will send 3'ou to the other 

 world.' I have certainly found the 'other world' variety, but I have the 

 power of discrimmation developed sufficiently to reject such varieties as 

 food. 



"To prove the fallacy of the apothegms above mentioned, many varie- 

 ties of toadstools have been enjoyed that immediately on fracture or touch 

 have changed from a delicate orange, yellow, crimson and red to a dull 

 blue, thence to a jet black. In fact, toadstools having all the colors of 

 the rainbow have been tested and freely eaten. 



"The peeling of the skin from the ordinary mushroom (Agaricus 

 campester) is not only a waste of time, but the strength and aroma of 

 the flesh is lost The deadly toadstool (Amanita phalloides) can be peeled 

 with ease. The delicious varieties of the showy Boleti family, which cov- 

 ers every tint known to nature, cannot be peeled. ]\Iany of those on the 

 slightest touch or pressure of the finger show their delicate construction 

 by immediately changing color, yet the delight of a fresh Boletus to a 

 Mycophagist (toadstool cater), is the reward of a trip that should well 

 repay the finder. 



"Many varieties of toadstools, such as the Lactarius family (L. 

 piperatus), CL. deceptivus), contain a white, hot. acrid milk, which in the 

 raw state would soon raise a blister on the tongue. Many of the members of 

 the Russula family (R. emetica) (R. fragilis) are hot as pepper, and in the 

 raw state wotdd cause vonn'ting, yet when any of the four mentioned 

 varieties arc properlv cooked the acridity and peppery qunlities depart 

 and the food becomes edible and digestible. 



"Botanists we have in every high scliool and college teaching the 

 youth how plants grow, but how few of the professional class of botanists 

 ever touch upon the subject of the value of food producing toadstools be- 

 longing to the lower order of plant life. Mycology should be taught in 

 every school in this city and countr}'. A botanist should be fully equipped 

 for such duties Specimens of the deadly anoanita and of several of the 

 edible .species of fungi should be on exhibition in the class room. Edu- 

 cation is grcafly needed in this matter, and with such a rich amount of 



