310 THE STORY-BOOK OF SCIENCE 



4 * Worms attack good mushrooms/' Antoine here 

 interposed; "they do not attack bad ones, because 

 they poison them." 



"That characteristic is no better than the other 

 one. Worms attack all old mushrooms, bad as well 

 as good ; for what would be death to us is harmless 

 to them. Their stomach is made so that they can 

 eat poison with impunity. Certain insects eat acon- 

 ite, digitalis, belladonna ; they feast on what would 

 kill us. " 



"They say," remarked Jean, "that a piece of sil- 

 ver put in the pot when the mushrooms are cooking 

 turns black if they are poisonous, and remains white 

 if they are good." 



"The saying is a foolish one, and to put it in 

 practice a folly. Silver does not change color any 

 more from bad than from good mushrooms. ' ' 



"There is nothing to do, then, but give up mush- 

 rooms. That would be hard on me," said Simon. 



"No, no; I promise you, on the contrary, that you 

 will be able to use them more than you have done. 

 The only thing is to proceed advisedly. 



' ' What is poisonous in mushrooms is not the flesh, 

 but the juice with which it is impregnated. Get rid 

 of that juice, and the injurious properties will dis- 

 appear immediately. This is accomplished by slic- 

 ing and cooking the mushrooms, either dried or 

 fresh, in boiling water with a handful of salt. They 

 are then drained in a colander and washed two or 

 three times in cold water. That done, they are pre- 

 n pared in any way one chooses. 



