144 MUSHROOM CULTURE. 



glance. Fries treats them as separate funguses, " in 

 deference to ancient authority, since their differences are 

 chiefly in degree." These differences are, nevertheless, 

 so well marked, that they are kept separate here. 

 Or cello, is a smaller and more delicate fungus than 

 prunulus. It is thinner and less fleshy, more undulated 

 in its borders, and has a lighter and more agreeable 

 odour. Orcella grows in more open glades than prunulus; 

 it is usually much whiter in colour, sometimes in high 

 situations white and glazed as an egg-shell, or even pottery. 

 Orcella grows more solitary than prunulus, in light, scat- 

 tered groups, showing an inclination for the neighbour- 

 hood of oak-trees, and where it does grow it may be 

 found year after year in the same place, but seldom 

 more than two or three in a spot. Last year, 1869, 

 when orcella was pretty plentiful, prunulus was not to be 

 found in the situations where it grows usually most abun- 

 dantly. Prunulus is the reverse of all this. It prefers 

 more shaded places, is larger, more fleshy, and with a 

 strong odour rather heavy and overpowering. It grows 

 in greater quantities together, and not unfrequently in 

 crowded rings from four to six feet in diameter. 



As edible funguses they should certainly be kept 

 distinct. Orcella is light and pleasant in odour, and 

 excellent in flavour: it is so tender and delicate as to 

 be termed, not inaptly, " vegetable sweetbread." Pru- 

 nulus, on the other hand, though always good, is to 



