JOURNAL 
OF 
The New York Botanical Garden 
VoL. XV June, 1914 No. 174 
EDIBLE FUNGI* 
a use of mushrooms in this country is as yet very limited 
and every an immense quantity of nutritious, eeees: 
palatable oni goes to waste in our frelds an which 
would be utilized in China and many other ee a s Old 
World. The reason for this is Aaa ce and fear; lack of 
knowledge dale the edible kinds, and a very definite im- 
pression that some of them or most a them are dangerous. 
All one ae the edible and poisonous properties of 
mushrooms is based on experiments, either intentional or un- 
intentional. The only safe rule is to confine oneself to known 
edible forms until others are proven harmless. If one is a 
beginner, he is like an explorer in a new country with an abun- 
dance of attractive fruit near at hand, which may be good or 
may be rank poison; he cannot tell without trying it, unless some 
native, who has learned from his own and others’ experience, 
shares his knowledge with him 
The majority of fleshy fungi are edible. A certain number are 
bitter, or peppery, or slightly poisonous, or otherwise objection- 
able, but not deadly. Their digestibility often depends on the 
way they are prepared and cooked, and on the peculiarities of 
® Ab fal Jeli d he New York ical November 
15,1 
Goonies for May, 1914 (15: ads was issued June 6, 1914] 
