INJURIOUS AND OTHER FUNGI. 91 



Leander Wetherell asked whether any of the fungi were poison- 

 ous at times, and at other times innoxious. 



Mr. Palmer replied that a poisonous species is so from the moment 

 of its bkth ; a wholesome one is so until it decays. Eventually 

 they are attacked by maggots and go the way of all living things. 



Mr. Wetherell said that many farmers have stated that their cattle 

 have been poisoned by eating the corn fungus, while a writer says 

 this is extremely rare. There was more of this fungus the past 

 season than ever before, though it is said to be most prevalent in wet 

 seasons, and the last summer was very diy. He never saw so much 

 in all his life before, as he saw in one cornfield of about three 

 acres ; but he heard of only now and then a case of poisoning. He 

 thought the liking for fungi as an article of food, an acquired taste, 

 and he would give the same advice in regard to using them as he did 

 to a young lady who was going out to collect autumn leaves, and 

 asked how to avoid dogwood, ivy, and other poisonous plants, viz. : 

 to gather nothing but what you know is harmless. 



Mr. Palmer agreed entirely with the gentlemen who thought no 

 one should attempt to gather or eat mushrooms until they could 

 distinguish between the harmless and noxious so as not to feel 

 the slightest fear. People would sometimes bring him six different 

 kinds for a name, not recognizing an}' difference between them. He 

 did not think the taste for mushrooms was an acquired one. The 

 noxious fungi have a slimy taste, or an earthy flavor ; on the con- 

 trary- the wholesome ones have an appetizing flavor. We shall 

 never learn the distinction between the wholesome and the pois- 

 onous kinds by sitting down and sajdng that no one knows any- 

 thing about them. 



John C. Hovey said there were many eatable kinds ; he had him- 

 self eaten seven diflferent kinds. He thought we should study and 

 know them as well as we know a Bartlett pear. Those which he is 

 acquainted with he knows certainly. 



Mrs. Wolcott asked whether the discovery of more smut on the 

 corn last year than before, was not in consequence of the failure 

 to take the advice of scientists, and destroy the spores. If there 

 were half a dozen heads filled with smut, that was enough to seed 

 all Worcester county. She thought the farmers might eradicate it 

 if they would. 



The Chairman of the Committee on Discussion announced for the 

 next Saturday a discussion on the subject of Dr. Slade's Prize 



