48 A PLAIN AND EASY ACCOUNT 



finitely in an uncertain quantity of water, or committing 

 them to the gridiron "sans everything." It will not be 

 necessary to append a description of a species so well 

 known ; but it may not be out of place to repeat the 

 recommendation, that to retain all their aroma, as well 

 as to prevent any unpleasant consequences from a free 

 indulgence in them, care should be taken to reject such 

 as have lost by age the pinkish tint of the gills, and to 

 cook those selected as speedily as possible after being 

 gathered. 



The varieties into which this fungus diverges are 

 almost infinite ; both the cultivated and uncultivated 

 kinds presenting great deviations from typical forms, as 

 great, indeed, as in some instances separate species, and 

 as such some authors have regarded them. 



The cultivation of mushrooms has not hitherto 

 received attention equal to that which has been be- 

 stowed upon other garden vegetables, and all the atten- 

 tion which they have received is centred in this one 

 species, as far as English horticulturists are concerned. 

 The promoters of a well-known journal devoted to 

 practical horticulture have once and again recommended 

 experiments on other species, but apparently hitherto 

 with but little success. It may be, that while there are 

 prizes offered for fine cauliflowers or rich grapes, there 

 are none for " improved mushrooms/' 



A kind of mushroom is found in meadows, growing 

 in large rings, and often attaining an enormous size, 

 which has been considered by some as only a variety 

 of the common mushroom, and by others as a distinct 



