MUSHROOMS. 375 
It grows by the roadside and in open woods or in waste places, in clusters. 
It is not so common as the shaggy mane, but more delicious. It is, like it, 
to be distinguished from all other families of mushrooms by the fact that 
when old it dissolves to ink dripping from its edges. Once perfectly identi- 
fied, you will always know it again, and where once found you may look for 
again in the fall of the year each season. In size it is about two inches high 
and as broad. It is to be cooked like the shaggy mane or eaten raw in a 
salad. 
Puff Balls. 
Puff balls are found of all sizes from those no bigger than your thumb 
to the giant as large as a peck basket. The next time you see one, resist 
the temptation to use it as a football, open it, and if pure snow white inside 
take it home, peel it, slice it very thin (say a quarter of an inch), fry it quick- 
ly in a little butter, season with salt and pepper, and lemon if desired, and 
you will have a most delicious omelette. A large one will furnish a meal for 
several families. 
Puff balls look at a distance like large white or silver grey cobble stones 
and are found in old pastures soon after a rain. 
Once you have found them there, you may expect to find them in the 
same locality year after year. They should not be used if they show the least 
shade of yellow, as this is a sign of decay. 
All puff balls are edible if pure snow white inside, but those having a 
stem are not as good. 
Common Field, or Meadow, Mushroom. 
In old pastures you frequently see the field, or meadow, mushroom. It 
is white or greyish on top, grows on a white stem and is from one-half to 
four or more inches across. It has pink gills, which turn brown as the 
mushroom grows older. It usually has a somewhat ragged collar around 
the stem, which in young specimens encloses the gills entirely. 
If you are in doubt about the specimen, lay it on a piece of paper gills 
downward and in about two hours, if not too young, it will deposit a brown 
dust. This is sure mark, if taken with the pink gills and collar round the 
stem. Look out for worms in meadow mushrooms. Fry in butter or broil 
cap downward, with a little butter in the upturned gills. Season to taste. 
Caution. 
In digging and gathering these mushrooms care should always be taken 
to examine every single specimen and dig up its root. If it shows any 
trace of a little cup out of which the stem grows, or any patches as if from 
the remains of a collar at the bottom, leave it alone, as such a specimen 
probably belongs to the Volvaria group and must be identified by an expert 
before it is safe to use. 
The only safe rule is: Never gather a mushroom growing out of a cup 
or showing any traces of it, except for scientific purposes. Never mix such 
with others destined for the table. Any mistake or lack of care here may be 
fatal. 
Shaggy Mane Salad. 
Peel and wash the caps, salt a little and serve either broken in pieces or 
whole, putting a teaspoonful of mayonaise dressing in each cap. 
Mushrooms can be used nicely with lettuce. 
