152 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



fungi or those concerning which any doubt exists, should on no 

 account be encouraged. "We may not possess so many truly 

 poisonous species as has been supposed, but that we do possess 

 some is an undoubted fact ; and it should be remembered as a 

 caution. Thoroughly experienced fungus-eaters seldom experi- 

 ment on unknown species, but only upon those which are known 

 to be harmless, or which by their natural affinities afford no 

 possible reason for doubt. 



Characteristic and accurate figures are a great help in the deter- 

 mination of species, but figures alone are scarcely sufficient for 

 the inexperienced, and should always be supplemented by a 

 reference to the written description. Features of importance may 

 be overlooked in scanning a figure, but these may be emphasized 

 in the description. Moreover there are features which cannot be 

 represented in diagi-ams, which may nevertheless be very evident in 

 the fungus itself, such as viscidity, odor, and taste. 



It is a popular error that a mushroom may be distinguished 

 from a toadstool by the cuticle of the cap. Some persons hold 

 that if the cuticle or skin of the cap (or pileus) can be stripped 

 off readily, then the fungus in question is an edible mushroom ; 

 but if it cannot be stripped off, it is poisonous. The cuticle is 

 certainly separable in the mushroom, both wild and cultivated ; 

 but in numerous instances it is separable in other species that are 

 certainly dangerous ; whereas in some excellent species which are 

 constantly eaten, there is no separable cuticle. I was advised by 

 Capt. Palmer, (a high authority on fungi, whose book on 

 American fungi I have already mentioned), when in doubt as to 

 the safety of any species, to eat a small piece, and the next day 

 to try a larger piece ; if no unpleasant results occurred it might 

 be considered edible. I would advise all persons who have an 

 interest in this subject to study his works. 



The assumption that fungi of the same species growing in 

 different localities, may be so modified by circumstances as to 

 lose or acquire poisonous qualities, has not been established. 

 One of our most virulent species has undoubtedly been eaten in 

 Russia with no disagreeable results, but there is no evidence that 

 the character of the fungus had changed, whilst there is every 

 reason to believe that the process of cooking adopted was 

 calculated to produce such results. It is very probable that the 

 poisonous principle existing in any fungus as it is grown, may be 



