48 



Having thus far discussed mushrooms or toadstools generally, 

 I shall now describe a few of our most common and edible species, 

 illustrated by cuts, shall tell where to find them, and how to pre- 

 pare them for the table, and shall leave to later bulletins the dis- 

 cussion and discription of many other edible or injurious species. 

 The species described in this paper are the most easily found, the 

 most abundant, and the kinds most commonly collected for the 

 table in America as well as in parts of Europe. It is not the in- 

 tention to make these descriptions long or scientific, but merely to 

 supplement the plates by a few sentences, telling how these sever- 

 al kinds may be known and where they may be found. 



The Common Field Agaric or Pink Gills. 



(Agaricus campester}. Plates I and II. 



This is the plant to which the name "Mushroom" is commonly 

 applied in its most limited application. It is common under ma- 

 ny forms both in Europe and America and is the one almost in- 

 variably bought in stores under this name. In the first stage at 

 which it is gachered for food, the "button" stage, it is a little, 

 white object closely resembling a puff ball, about one inch or less 

 high and nearly as wide. If we dig it up, we shall find it differs 

 from the puff-ball in having a distinct stem. Split one of these 

 buttons down, and then we clearly make out, (i) astern or stipe, 

 (2) a cap or pileus, (3) the gills or lamellae, and (4) the veil or 

 velum, a white soft membrane extending from the edge of the cap 

 to the stem. (See Plate II). As the "button" grows into the 

 mature mushroom, the veil is ruptured, and we see fragments of 

 it adhering to the edge of the pileus, while the greater part, be- 

 coming entirely separated from the cap, remains somewhat down 

 the stem as a ring or annulus, though the ring may occasionally be 



PLATE 9. The Bear's Head or Hedge-Hog- Mushroom, Hydnum 

 Caput-Ursi. One-third natural size. Grows on old log's in woods, yel- 

 lowish white to pure white in color. Delicious stewed. 



