100 MUSHROOM CULTURE. 



where it is sold to fashionable purchasers ; stale, vapid, 

 and without taste unless it be a bad one. 



" When young and fresh, the horse mushroom is a most 

 desirable addition to the bill of fare : it yields an abun- 

 dant gravy, and the flesh is firm and delicious. It is a 

 valuable plant when freshly gathered, but when stale it 

 becomes tough and leathery, and without aroma <or 

 juice. 



" There is a curious, large, brown, hairy variety, of rather 

 uncommon occurrence, similar to the hairy variety of 

 the meadow mushroom, the A. villaticus of Dr. Badham. 

 It is a splendid form, but, I think, very rare. I have 

 only seen it once. 



"Many country-folk readily distinguish the meadow 

 from the horse mushroom, and show antipathy to the latter, 

 although they are always willing to put it into the jar as 

 one of the ingredients of ketchup. Opinions appear 

 to differ greatly regarding the excellence of this species. 

 Mr. Peri rose writes : ' I think young, and especially 

 button, specimens of this very indigestible ; until they 

 are well opened out, they are unfit for use/ Such, 

 however, I must say, is not my experience of button 

 specimens. 



" There is a strong odour attached both to the fungus 

 and the spawn, the ground just below the surface being 

 frequently white with the latter ; or if horse-dung be 

 kicked aside in a rich meadow frequented by gramini- 



