ae 
THE RAISING OF MUSHROOMS. 253 
?n a barn, in sheds or in the cellar, either in the spring or fall of the 
year. 
Mushrooms, when gathering, I find it best to pull or twist out so that 
they leave no decaying stumps or roots in the beds, as that prevents after- 
growth. 
I would just like to say a few words about the Coprinus Comatus (maned 
mushrooms, or Shaggy Mane) as they are commonly called, and the 
Morchella Esculenta (the Morel), which grow out-doors. 
The Shaggy Mane mushrooms are eatable in some form of cooking and 
served like an oyster stew are delicious, but are never as highly prized as the 
Agaricus Campestris. The Shaggy Mane mushrooms can be found in pas- 
tures, roadsides, river banks, farmyards and around old hay-stacks in the 
spring and autumn months, coming to the surface in the shape of an egg. 
When they get old they turn to a black, inky substance. 
* The Morchella Esculenta (the Morel) is another well known eatable 
mushroom. Its surface is broken up into very little cells, resembling a 
honeycomb or tripe. They are of a brown color and are hollow. This 
mushroom is found only in the month of June, around shady groves, old 
oak stumps and places where charcoal has been burned. The Shaggy Mane 
mushrooms grow in bunches and the Morchella Esculenta grow singly. 
In concluding my remarks upon mushrooms, I would say that persons 
contemplating gathering wild mushrooms be careful and notice that if the 
mushrooms grow out of a socket, or cup-like shape, and are very odorous 
and of a greenish hue or discolored stem,—if so, the mushrooms are 
poisonous. If in gathering wild mushrooms you are in the least doubt as 
to their being poisonous or not, it is far better to leave them alone than to 
take the chances of eating them. It is almost impossible to tell or dis- 
tinguish by writing the difference between good and poisonous mushrooms 
as there are so many varieties. 
ECHOES FROM FARMERS’ INSTITUTE. 
HON. A. K. BUSH, LECTURER ON HORTICULTURE. 
Our institute continues to be well attended with a good interest in all 
‘subjects, especially horticulture. At Le Roy we had some most excellent 
strawberries on exhibition, one specimen measuring 5% inches in circum- 
ference, which was grown under exactly the methods taught from the 
institute platform. 
From careful inquiry I find all who are planting nothing but the best 
staminate varieties are succeeding beyond their expectations. The Lovett, 
‘Splendid and Bederwood are very popular varieties in this part of our state. 
At Le Roy I saw a very good crop of plums on trees four years from 
the seed—suggestive of the possibilities of plum growing in southern Min- 
nesota. However, I would not advise fruiting many of these pium seed- 
lings; better graft them with some of our excellent improved varieties 
‘which are known to be of superior quality. Life is too short for us to 
‘spend much time with wild plums of uncertain quality when we have so 
‘many kinds to select from which are fully equal to the best in the east or 
‘south. I visited a farm, yesterday, where 1,000 evergreens were planted 
twenty years ago. They cost the man $100, being largely Norway spruce, 
about 12 inches high when he bought them. I learned on inquiry that they 
