354 



NATIVE AND NATURALIZED PLANTS OF SOUTH CAROLINA. 



of jtropatration must be investi<:ated and understood, before any legitimate mode of 

 treatment can be devised. But in order to do this, ^ve have first to collect, classify and 

 arran^'e them in some intelligible order, and to give them names, so they may be 

 known, and so that scientists, in describing them, may know what they are talking 

 about. The first pioneer work therefore is to make collections, and then classify and 

 arrange them by some definite method for future use. To thoughtless persons it may 

 seem useless to devote attention to such small objects, and even frivolous to occupy 

 oneself with such matters, but the day for such comments is passing away. As we 

 learn more and more of the works of the Creator, we see that "small and great" are 

 only terms of our own. They have no place in the vocabulary of nature. In fact it 

 is by the examination antl study of these simplest forms of life, tliat we are enabled 

 to learn more of the higher and more complete forms. They assail us directly at all 

 points. Their minute and invisible spores are everywhere present — in the air we 

 breathe and in the water we drink. Diseases, injurious to animal as well as vegetable 

 life, owe their origin to them and their destructive agency, — and demand our attention. 

 It is to these simplest forms of the animal and vegetable kingdom, as easiest of com- 

 prehension, that the most profound philosophers of our day are turning their inquiries 

 and studies in their search after the origin of life. 



Every one is familiar with the ordinary Mushrooms which we see springing up about 

 the woods, or on the roadways, and in fields and gardens — how numerous they are — 

 and how they vary in color, and size. These are tlie Agarics. They constitute a very 

 large genus of fungi, and to them belongs the famous edible Mushroom, and many 

 others which are not only wholesome food, but even sought after as delicacies. They 

 are the most highly organized group of the order There are doubtless many un- 

 wholesome, and some very poisonous, members of this genus, but probably the much 

 largest portion are either innocuous or wholesome. The late Dr. Curtis, of North Car- 

 olina, who paid special attention to this branch of botany, proved by personal experi- 

 ment, the wholesome properties of over one hundred different species. In Europe, 

 where population is more dense, large ciuantities are consumed. In our newer country, 

 where the means of living is easier, we hear less of tliem, because other food is more 

 abundant. 



I will now proceed to note a few of the most prominent and well known species (in 

 accordance with the arrangement in the previous part of this paper) and then give an 

 enumeration of the whole number of fungi found in our State. 



1. IMPERIAL MUSHROOM. 



2. FLY-AGARIC. 



3. HALLIMASCIIE. 



4. CLUSTERED AGARIC. 



5. PARASOL MUSHROOM. 



6. LONG-ROOTED MUSHROOM. 



7. OYSTER MUSHROOM. 



Agaricus Caesareus. Edible ; in 



woods. 

 A. muscarius. Poisonous ; in 



woods. 



A. melleus. Edible ; in clusters on 



rotten stump.s. 



A. caespitosus. Very similar to 



the last. 



A. procerus. In lawns and woods ; 



edible. 

 A. radicatus. Edible ; in woods. 

 A. ostreatus. Edible ; on dead 



trunks. 



