THE FAIRY RING 241 



obstacle, such as a stone, and a break in the con- 

 tinuity occurs which is perpetuated in the subse- 

 quent growth. Hence the very common occurrence 

 of partial rings or segments. 



In this country practically only one mushroom 

 is eaten (Agaricus campestris], but a great many 

 others are equally good as food, some a great 

 deal better ; and, strange to say, our favourite 

 is on the Continent no favourite at all, and the 

 Italians, who are the greatest fungi-eaters in the 

 world, refuse to look at it. Among the neglected, 

 but edible, British species is the Fairy Ring mush- 

 room. One of the greatest authorities on the 

 subject says that " when of a good size and quickly 

 grown it is perhaps the best of all fungi for the 

 table, whether carefully fried or stewed with an 

 admixture of finely minced herbs and a minute 

 portion of garlic. It is, at the same time, tender 

 and easy of digestion, and when once its use is 

 known and its character ascertained no species 

 may be used with less fear." The champignon, as 

 the French know it, can be dried and the caps 

 strung on a thread, when the mushrooms remain 

 available for use for a considerable time. But 

 few are those who ever care to make alimentary 

 experiments with mushrooms, and when it is known 

 how closely the good are resembled by the bad, 

 the prevailing reluctance cannot be pronounced 

 either absurd or unwholesome. 



16 



