PLANTS. 371 



The Imperial or Golden Agaric (Amanita caesarea), 

 plate 20. fig. 8, 9, one of the handsomest and best pro- 

 portioned of the mushroom family, has a hollow, yellow 

 stalk about six inches high, with a smooth, yellow ring, 

 and issuing from a white valva or "wrapper. Cap from 

 four to six inches in breadth, is glossy, gold-colored, and 

 umbrella-shaped ; sometimes covered with white warts ; 

 has one broad, sulphur-colored leaf, bordered with one 

 stripe. Found abundantly in the chestnut woods in the 

 south of France and Italy, mostly in autumn ; considered 

 very excellent. Fig. 9 is a representation of the young 

 plant, which, from its likeness to an egg, receives the 

 name of the Egg Mushroom. 



Nearly all the Agarics, properly so-called, are in Eu- 

 rope esteemed as good and wholesome food, and growing, 

 especially in wet seasons, so abundantly in woods and 

 meadows, it seems almost to be regretted that they are so 

 little used. This proceeds from want of a proper know- 

 ledge of their true nature, and therefore, as there are 

 many of them poisonous and closely resemble the edible 

 species, persons are afraid of mistaking one for the 

 other. The difference, however, between the true and 

 the false is easy of acquisition. Those which change 

 color quickly after being gathered, or of a soft, watery 

 structure, have a peppery, bitter, astringent taste and 

 disagreeable odor, ought invariably to be rejected. The 

 edible mushrooms have a fresh, earth-like smell, and in 

 taste resemble hazel-nuts, and even these must be care- 

 fully selected, as some among them, although not actually 

 poisonous, contain an acrimonious juice, and when eaten, 

 are attended with unpleasant consequences. In order to 

 be secure from such effects, all mushrooms previously 

 selected and cleansed ought to be tied up in a thick cloth 



