EDIBLE FUNGI. 121 



here, also, it should be quickly used, and the ketchup 

 quickly made. 



Agaricus gambosus (the True St. George's 

 Mushroom) . 



Pileus thick and fleshy , convex at first, often lobed, be- 

 coming undulated and irregular, expanding unequally ; the 

 margin more or less involute, and at first flocculose ; from 

 three to four inches across ; of a light yellow colour in 

 the centre, fading to almost opaque white at the edges ; 

 it is soft to the touch ; more or less tuberculated, and 

 often presenting cracks. Gills yellowish-white, watery, 

 narrow, marginate, annexed to the stem with a little 

 tooth : they are very numerous and irregular, with many 

 smaller ones interposed, " lying over each other like the 

 plaits of a frill" (from 5 to 11, Vittadini). Stem firm, 

 solid and white, swelling at the base in young specimens ; 

 but in older ones, though usually bulging, they are fre- 

 quently of even size, and when in long grass they 

 occasionally even taper downwards. This agaric is usually 

 nearly white, smooth, soft, and firm, like kid leather to 

 the touch, and, as Berkeley has happily said, " in ap- 

 pearance it very closely resembles a cracknel biscuit." 



They grow in rings ; have a strong smell, and appear 

 about St. George's Day (April 23), after the rains which 

 usually fall about the third week in April. They con- 



