MUSHROOMS 



will often wash it away. Sometimes pieces of the veil 

 hang around the edges of the cap. 



The flesh is white, but it may become slightly tinged 

 with red when cut and exposed to the air. Its taste is 

 pleasant, somewhat like that of a nut. 



This is the plant that is generally spoken of as "the 

 mushroom." Probably because it is the only fungus 

 that has been cultivated to any great extent. Gener- 

 ally the mushroom or toadstool refuses to be coaxed 

 into growing anywhere except in its native place. 

 "They will not emigrate; they refuse to be educated, 

 and stand themselves upon their single leg, as the most 

 independent and contrary growth with which man has 

 to deal." But the common mushroom, when carefully 

 transplanted and cared for, will reward its cultivator 

 with an abundant crop. 



There is a plant known as the horse or field mush- 

 room that is very much like the common meadow 

 mushroom and grows in about the same places. It is 

 somewhat larger. The stem is hollow, and larger at 

 the base than at the top. Near the cap is a double 

 ring or collar the lower part of which is thicker than 

 the upper. As it is good to eat, there is no harm done 

 if we cannot always tell it from the common mush- 

 room. 



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