EDIBLE FUNGI. 123 



The St. George's mushroom is not an uncommon 

 agaric in this country, and where it does appear it is 

 usually plentiful a single ring affording generally a good 

 basket full. It should be gathered when young, or it 

 will be found grub-eaten, for no fungus is more speedily 

 and more voraciously attacked by insects than this 

 one. 



Opinions on the Merits of Agaricus gambosus as an 

 Edible Fungus. " This rare and most delicious agaric, the 

 mouceron of Bulliard, and the Agaricus prunulus of other 

 authors, abounds on the hills above the valley of Stafora, 

 near Bobbio, where it is called Spinaroli, and is in great 

 request ; the country people eat it fresh in a variety of 

 ways, or they dry and sell it at from twelve to sixteen 

 francs a pound." Letter from Professor Balbi to Persoon. 



" The most savoury fungus with which I am ac- 

 quainted . . . and which is justly considered over almost 

 the whole continent of Europe as the ne plus ultra of 

 culinary friandise." 



The prunulus (gambosus) is much prized in the 

 Roman market, where it easily fetches, when fresh, 

 thirty baiocchi i.e., fifteen pence per pound a large 

 sum for any luxury in Rome. It is sent in little baskets 

 as presents to patrons, fees to medical men, and bribes 

 tn Roman lawyers." Dr. Badham. 



The Agaricus gambosus " is one that a person cannot 

 well make any mistake about. It sometimes attains a 



