160 IN THE ACADIAN LAND. 



realities that outrank the material objects that 

 suggest them. 



We have at least two common species of 

 puff-balls. One is brownish-white, with a short 

 stem, and somewhat pear-shaped and warty ; 

 this is the Ly coper don gemmatum. The other 

 rests close on the ground, is white, and a little 

 warty ; this is the Lycoperdon saccotum. They 

 are both good food when properly cooked and 

 plucked in season. They should be gathered 

 when fresh, while the inside is pure white, cut 

 in slices and fried in butter. Many good judges 

 of such things prefer them to eggs. 



Now we will take up another branch of this 

 Fungus family. The toadstools are known to 

 all who "take their walks abroad." There is 

 one group or family of which there are many 

 members common all about us. These are the 

 Agarics, and the common mushroom of the ta- 

 ble and market belongs here. They are shaped 

 like an umbrella. On the under side of the 

 cap, or pileus, are the gills, arranged around the 

 stem, like spokes of a wheel. When it is just 

 showing itself through the earth it is a tiny 

 ball, but if we cut it in halves the indications 

 of the umbrella-shape will be seen. When fully 

 out of the soil there is a thin veil drawn over 

 the gills, and it soon breaks, and shrivels up 



