THE MEADOW MUSHROOM. 



A large volume might be written aliout this 

 species, the only one popularly recognized in this 

 country, as edible. There is scarcely any one who 

 does not feel himself competent to decide on the 

 genuincaessof a mushroom; its pink gills easily dis- 

 tinguishit, and out of the pickings of ten thousand 

 hands, a mistake is of raro occurrence ; and yet no 

 fungus presents itself under such a variety of 

 forms, or such singular diversities of aspect ! The 

 inference is plain ; less dis ;-riniination than that 

 employed to distinguish this would enable any one 

 who should take the trouble, ta recognise at a 

 glance many of the esculent species, which every 

 spring and autumn, fill ur meadows and pastures 

 with plenteousness. At Rome, whilst many 

 hundred baskets of what we call toadstools are 

 carried home for the table, almost tho only one 

 condemned to be thrown into the Tiber, by the 

 inspector of the fungus market is our own mush- 

 room. 



The plant is so well known and highly esteemed 

 in this country that it is hardly necessary to say 

 a word in its favour or repeat methods of preparing 

 it for the table. Butter, spice, parsley, salt ana 

 pepper, appear to be in the greatest request ; but 

 when stewed, fried or pickled, it is equally 

 delicious in all. 



