USES. 85 



and is included in the majority of continental works on the 

 edible fungi.* In Austria, Germany, and Spain, it has special 

 " vulgar " names, and is eaten in all these countries. It is 

 much more collected in England than formerly, but deserves 

 to be still better known. When once seen it can scarcely be 

 confounded with any other British species, save one of its 

 nearest allies, which partakes of its own good qualities (Agaricus 

 rachodes), though not quite so good. 



Agaricus prunulus, Scop., and Agaricus orcella, Badh., if they 

 be not forms of the same species (which Dr. Bull contends that 

 they are notf), have also a good reputation as esculents. They 

 are both neat, white agarics, with a mealy odour, growing 

 respectively in woods and open glades. Agaricus nebularis, 

 Batsch, is a much larger species, found in woods, often in large 

 gregarious patches amongst dead leaves, with a smoky mouse- 

 coloured pileus, and profuse white spores. It is sometimes as 

 much as five or six inches in diameter, with rather a faint odour 

 and mild taste. On the continent, as well as in Britain, this is 

 included amongst edible fungi. Still larger and more imposing 

 is the magnificent white species, Agaricus maximus, Fr.,J which 

 is figured by Sowerby, under the name of Agaricus giganteus. 

 It will attain a diameter of fourteen inches, with a stem two 

 inches thick, and rather a strong odour. 



A spring fungus, the true St. George's mushroom, Agaricus 

 gambosus, Fr., makes its appearance in pastures, usually growing 

 in rings, in May and June, and is welcome to mycophagists from 

 its early growth, when esculent species are rare. It is highly 

 esteemed in France and Italy, so that when dried it will realize 

 as much as from twelve to fifteen shillings per pound. Guil- 

 larmod includes it amongst Swiss esculents. || Professor Buck- 



* Lenz, Dr. H. 0., "Die Niitzlichen und Schadlichen Scliwiimme," Gotha 

 (1831), p. 32, pi. 2. 



t Bull, H. G., in "Transactions of Woolhope Club" (1869). Fries admits 

 them as distinct species in the new edition of his ' ' Epicrisis. " 



Hussey's " Illustrations of Mycology," ser. i. pi. 79. 



Sowerby's " British Fungi," pi. 244. 



|| Favre-Guillarmod, ' Les Champignons Comestibles du Canton de Neuchatel" 

 (1861), p. 27. 



fi 



