80 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGKICULTU.K1S. 



PsaUiota. — campestria, arvensis, amygdalinus, cretaceua, sylyaticu*. 



Coprinus. — comatus, atramentarias. 



Coriinarius. — infractas, violaceus. 



( >-tinarius. — pholideus, cinnamomeus, castaneus. 



' jrophorus. — chrysodon, ebumeus, pratensis. 



Laclariits. — tormiDosns, iusulsus, piperatus, deliciosus, volomus, subdalois. 



Bussula. — adusta, lepida, virescens. ♦ 



Bussida. — ocbroleuca alutacea. 



Cantharclhis. — cibarius. 



Marasmius. — oreades, ecorodonins. 



Boletus. — luteus, elegans, flavidus, collinitas, granulatas, bovinus, subtomeutosas, 

 edulis, versipellis, scaber, castaneus. 



Polpypoms, (1. Mesopus.) — leucomelas, ovinns, poripes. 



Merisnia. — frondosns, cristatus, confluens, giganteus, eulpbureue, berkeleii. 



Ftstulina. — bejiatica. 



Eydnum, (\. Mesopus.) — imbricatum, Bubsquamosum, laevigatum, repandam, rufes- 

 cens. 



Merisma. — coralloides, caput-Medu8». 



Sparissis. — rrispa, laminosa. 



Clavaria, (liamaria.) — flava, botrytis, fastigiata, rauscoides, tetragona, cristata, ra- 

 gosa, uliginea, niacropus, subtilis, pyxidata, aurea, formosa. 



Tremella.—ioliacea, mesenterica. 



Dr. Curtis says that hill and plain, mountain and valley, \voods, fields, 

 and pastures, swarm vrith a profusion of good nutritious fungi, which 

 are allowed to decay where they spring up, because people do not know 

 how, or are afraid, to use them. "J3y those of us who know their use, 

 their value was appreciated, as never before, during the late war, when 

 other food, especially meat, was scarce and dear. Then such persons as 

 I have heard express a preference for mushrooms over meat had gener- 

 ally no need to lack grateful food, as it was easily had for the gathering, 

 and within easy distance of their homes, if living in the country. Such 

 was not always the case, however. I remember once, during the gloomy 

 period when there had been a protracted drought, and fleshy fungi were 

 to be found only in damp shaded woods, and but few even there, I Avas 

 unable to find enough of any one species for a meal, so, gathering of 

 every kind, 1 brought home thirteen different kinds, had them all cooked 

 togther in one giund j)ot pourri, and made an excellent supper." 



" One important use to which several species of fungi can bo applied is 

 the manufacture of catsup. For this purpose, not only is the mush- 

 room, Agaricus campestris, and the horse-mushroom, Afjariciis arvensis, 

 available, but also Agaricus ruhesccns is declared to be excellent for the 

 purpose, and a delicious, but pale, extract is to be obtained from Ma- 

 rasmius orcades. Other species, as Coprinus comatus and Coprinus 

 atramentariiis, are also available, together with FistuUna hepatica and 

 Morceliella esculenta. In some districts, when mushrooms are scarce, it 

 is stated that almost any species that will yield a dark juice is without 

 scruple mixed with the common mushroom, and, it should seem, without 

 any bad consequence, except the deterioration of the catsup. There is 

 an extensive manufacture of catsup conducted at Lubbeuham, near 

 Market Harborough ; but the great difiiculty appears to be the preven- 

 tion of decomposition. Messrs. Perkins receive tons of mushrooms from 

 every part of the kingdom, and they find, even in the same species, an 

 immense difference in the quality and quantity of the produce. The 

 price of mushrooms varies greatly with the season, ranging between one 

 penny and sixpence per pound. Messrs. Perkins are very careful in 

 their selection ; but little discrimination is used by country manufacturers 

 on a small scale, who u.sc such doubtful species as Agaricus lacryma- 

 bundus with Agaricus spadlce2(S, and a host of allied species, which they 

 characterize as nonpareils and champignons. In the eastern counties 

 Agaricus arvensis has the preference for catsup." 



