AGARICACEAE OR GILL-BEARING MUSHROOMS. 



'T is not my intention to attempt a sys- 

 tematic and thorough discussion of 

 this subject. I take it for granted that 

 what is desired for the columns of the 

 Horticulturist is not a technical treatise 

 that may interest students of mycology, but 

 such a clear and concise description of the 

 salient characteristics of a few of the more 

 important species of this group as will en- 

 able the average reader to recognize them 

 readily, and so enrich his fungus menu by 

 one or more new acquisitions or to avoid at 

 least the forbidden fruit that some have 

 eaten to their cost. Judging from my own 

 experience and that of others, I bespeak for 

 every reader of the Horticulturist an in- 

 tensity of interest and pleasure every time 

 that he identifies a new species, and places it 

 for the first time upon his table, and par- 

 takes of it without harmful results. The 

 subject of mycology is so fascinating, and 

 the interest in it so easily awakened, that I 

 venture the assertion that some who may 

 read these articles will not be content with 

 the few fragmentary thoughts that I may be 

 able to give them, and will eagerly 

 seek for more. To those unfamiliar with 

 the subject it may be desirable to explain a 



Fig. 1988. Undeveloped Amanita.J 



Fig. 1989. Mati/Red Amanita {Mclhmine). 



few terms used in describing the more im- 

 portant structural features of this group. 



Fig. 1988 represents a cross section of a 

 young and undeveloped amanita. The let- 

 ter A points to the mycelium or thread-like 

 vine, the true fungus from which the fruit 

 or mushroom grows ; B — the outer envelope 

 or volva, by some styled the "universal 

 veil," completely enwrapping the whole 

 plant ; C — the inner or partial veil connect- 

 ing the stem with the cap and enclosing the 

 lamellae or gills. 



Fig. 1989 represents a cross section of the 

 siame plant at maturity. During the period 

 of growth the outer veil has been ruptured, 

 and nothing remains of it but a cup or sheath 

 at the base of the stem indicated by the let- 

 ter A, and some shreds or fragments looking 

 like scales or warts on the top of the cap ; 

 (B). The inner veil has also been torn from 

 the cap and now appears as an annulus or 

 ring about the stem ; (C). The gills under- 



