258 



CA NA DIA N HO K TIC UL TURIS T. 



li<phi hii Prof. Ponton. Botanixt, Ain-icidtitra/ 

 College, Gutlph. 



Ill mushrooms the spores are purple 

 the gills are at first pinkish afterwards 

 purple ; there is a permanent ring or 

 collar round the stem. This fungus 

 does not grow in the woods. The smell 

 too, is somewhat peculiar, and when 

 once observed serves to identify it : 

 this mushroom smell cannot be described 

 but requires to be experienced in order 

 to be understood. 



The term toadstool is very general 

 and applied to several fungi ; the 

 mushroom itself is included in the 

 name sometimes, and thus it becomes, 

 difhcult to just say what a toadstool is. 

 Let the inquirer learn to identify the 

 mushroom by the characters given 

 above and look at other forms with 

 suspicion until he has learned to know 

 thoroughly the characters of the edible 

 fungi. 



To see, handle, and taste the true 

 mushroom is by far the best way to 

 learn how to identify it, and this is 

 tlie method the writer would advise, 

 rather than to depend on a book de- 

 scription where so many serious cases 

 of poisoning have resulted from mis- 

 taking poisonous fungi for those that 

 are edible. 



Further Tests. 



The following tests are given for 

 distinguishing between true and false 

 and poisonous mushrooms : 1. Sprinkle 

 a little salt on the spongy parts or gills 

 of the sample to be tried, if they turn 

 yellow they are poisonous, if black 

 they are wholesome. 2. False mush- 

 rooms have a warty cap, or else the 

 fragments of membrane adhering to 

 the upper surface are heavy, and 

 emerge from a vulva or bag; they 



grow in tufts or clustpr.s in woods, on 

 the stumps of trees, etc.; whereas the 

 true mushrooms grow in pastures. 3 

 False mushrooms have an astringent, 

 styptic and disagreeable taste. 4. When 

 cut they turn blue. ^. They are moist 

 on the surface, and are generally of a 

 rose, or orange color. 6. The gills of 

 the true mushrooms are of a pinky red, 

 changing to a liver color. 7. The flesh is 

 white. 8. The stem is white, solid and 

 cylindrical. 9. Introduce a silver spoon 

 or a new silver coin, or an onion, into 

 a vessel in which mushrooms are seetli- 

 ing ; if on taking either of them out, 

 they assume a dark discolored appear- 

 ance, the circumstance denotes the 

 presence of poison existing among 

 them ; if, on the other hand, the metal 

 or onion on being withdrawn from the 

 liquor wears its natural appearance 

 the fruit may be regarded as genuine. 



Gpape Vine Leaf Fungus. 



107. What affects encld.sed graiie vine leaf ? 



RcpUi hii Prof. J- H. Panto?}, Guelph. 

 There is no doubt but the enclosed 

 grape vine leaf is affected by fungoid 

 growth, but too obscure for identifica- 

 tion. Let the subscriber cultivate his 

 vines so as to increase their vigor, and 

 it is likely they will over-ride the 

 attack. 



White Hibiscus. 



108. Do you know anj'thing of a hardy White 

 Hibiscus ': 'Does it prove hardy in this climate ? 

 — L. F. Selleck, Morrishurg. 



Rcplfi hy F. Mitchell, Innerkip. 

 I have no knowledge of any hardy 

 AVhite Hil^iscus, at least, of the Indian 

 or Chinese varieties. These all require 

 a high temperature. There are, how- 

 ever, native American varieties which 

 I believe are hardy, but I have no prac- 



