85 



Distinguishing ediele ^iushrooms. — A writer in tlie English Me- 

 cliauic gives what he considers to be an invaluable rule for distinguish- 

 ing the true mushrooms from the poisonous species. He remarks, in the 

 first place, that the true mushroom is invariably found in rich, open 

 j)astures, and never on or about stumps or in woods; and, although 

 a wholesome species sometimes occurs in the latter localities, the writer 

 considers it best to avoid their products. A very good point, in the 

 second place, is the peculiar inteuse purple-brown color of the spore-dust, 

 from Avhich the ripe mushroom derives this same color (almost black) 

 in the gills. To see these spores, it is only necessary to remove the 

 stem from the mushroom, and lay the upper portion, with the gills down- 

 ward, on a sheet of writing-paper, when the spores will be deposited, in 

 a dark, impalpable powder, in a short time. Several dangerous species, 

 sometimes mistaken for the true, have the spore umber-brown, or pale 

 umber-brown. 



In the true mushroom, again, there is a distinct and perfect collar, 

 quite encircling the stem, a little above the middle, and the edge of the 

 cap overlaps the gills. In some poisonous species this collar is reduced 

 to a mere fringe, and the overlapping margin is absent or reduced to a 

 few white scales. Lastly, the gills never reach to nor touch the stem, 

 there being a space all around the top of the stem, where the gills are 

 free from the stalk. 



There are numerous varieties of true mushrooms, all of them equally 

 good for the table. Sometimes the top is white and soft like kid leather; 

 at other times it is dark-brown and scaly. Sometimes, on being cut or 

 broken, the mushroom changes color to yellow, or even blood-red ; at 

 other times, no change whatever takes place. To sum up, it is to be ob- 

 served that the mushroom always grows in })astures ; always has dark, 

 purple-brown spores ; always has a perfect encircling collar ; and always 

 has gills which do not touch the stem, and has a top with an overlapping 

 edge. 



In addition to the method just indicated for testing the genuineness 

 of mushrooms, we are informed that, however much any particular fun- 

 gus may resemble the eatable mushroom, none are genuine nor safe the 

 skin of which cannot be easily removed. When taken by the thumb 

 and finger at the overlapping edge, this skin will peel upward to the 

 center, all around, leaving only a small xjortion of the center of the 

 crown to be pared ofi' by the knife. 



Introduction of useful palms into Florida. — A memorial has 

 been presented to Congress by Mr, Louis Baker, praying that the neces- 

 sary steps be taken to introduce into the Southern States certain palms 

 yielding sugar and fruit. Many j-ears ago. Dr. Perrine, of Florida, me- 

 morialized Congress, urging the importance of taking measures to in- 

 itiate the cultivation of various tropical plants, of the success of which 

 he felt assured by the results of his own experiments. The untimely 

 death of the doctor, not long after, prevented any further action in this 

 matter, though it is not unlikely that, had he lived, Florida and other 

 Southern States would be enjoying a variety of important vegetable 

 products not now included in their industrial resources. Mr. Baker 

 thinks the palms especially important, particularly^ those furnishing 

 sugar and oil in large quantities. He presents statements showing the 

 ease with which such trees can be planted and kei>t up, and vast returns 

 obtained with very little expenditure of labor. Other species of i)alm, 

 considered by him important, are the date-palm, the cocoa-nut, the sago, 



