CRYPTOGAMIA FUNGI. 



1017 



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■ri "nis 



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L:S 



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Common Mufhroom, or Champignion. Anglis. 

 In dry paRures after rains, as in the king's park 



at Edinburgh^ Sec. IX. 

 Tiie ftalk is fliort, white, folid, a finger thick, 

 and furrounded with an annular membrana- 

 ceous Vclva. 

 The Pileus when young is white, hemifpherical, 

 flediy, and covered with lacerated fcales j the 

 rim infle6led. ■ : ■ 

 The gills are rofe or pink-colour'd, arched, and 

 moft of them of equal length. In decay, the 

 Voha drops off, the Pileus becomes flat and 

 fmooth, and the gills turn black. 

 This is efteem'd the bell and moft favoury of the 

 ■'. genus, and is the kind moll ufually brought to 

 table in England. 

 It is eaten frefii either fl:ew'd or boil'd, and pre- 

 ferv'd either pickled or pulveriz'd. And of its 

 juice with fait and fpices is made the fauce 

 call'd Catchup. •■' ''■ ■■•■-' 



The gardeners contrive to propagate this mufh- 

 room either from its feeds or roots, fo as to 

 produce them at all feafons of the year. To 

 efFe<ft this they make beds like the ridge of a 

 houfe, compofed of alternate layers of horfc- 

 dung and earth, covered with litter. In the 

 furlace of thele beds, when they have acquired 

 a fufficient degree of heat, they either plant 



the 



