44 FIELD AND FOREST. 



from the earth. Upon examination we sometimes find the larva dead, 

 often in a state of decay, with perhaps two sprouts of fungi, one from 

 the mouth and another under the thorax. In some cases only one and 

 that from the thorax, extending three inches in length. 



We are aware that the phenomenon of dimorphism has not been 

 established as a universal law amongst fungi. As a rule we believe 

 that the agarics do produce the very counterpart of their originals. 

 Yet we have met with several instances where dualism seemed to creep 

 in and upset the rule. The mycelium of our edible mushroom, the 

 Agaricus campestris, will, under cultivation, produce the Agaricus 

 arvensis. We believe that this change was effected by high cultiva- 

 tion, by some special agency, in the compost prepared by a skilful 

 gardener, one versed in condensing the necessary particles requisite to 

 force vegetation to its utmost in size and quality. 



Apart from the influence of cultivation there are several varieties of 

 Ag. campestris. All have a fleshy pileus, but they vary in color from 

 white to light brown, sometimes scaly. Volva fugacious, stems vary in 

 shape but are white and firm. It has been said that in Italy this 

 mushroom was rejected as poisonous. Professor Sanguinetti writes, 

 "It is reckoned one Of their fiercest imprications amongst our lower 

 orders, infamous for the horrible nature of their oaths, to pray that 

 any one may die of Pratiola." We have learned, from the most 

 reliable authority, that the Italians reject it not because they think it 

 poisonous, but because they like the Ag. cczsareus better. We will 

 here state the difference between the wild and the cultivated Ag. 

 campestris. Those which we gather from our meadows are filled with 

 a delicious aroma, both to the smell and the taste, and they form an 

 extremely delicate and digestible diet. Those that are cultivated are 

 neither so delicate or so healthy. Perhaps it might require an acute 

 and cultivated taste to detect the difference, but when once known it 

 is very marked. This secret was divulged to us by an old Maryland 

 epicure, who was up to all the lore in the book of epicurean recipes. 



In June, 1876, we had several agarics, series Dermini. The pilei 

 were in color a near approach to the feathers on a robin's breast, thus 

 we named them Ag. rubecula. They were placed in the open air on a 

 box that was filled with earth. Our attention was called off and they 

 withered too much for preservation. They were prolific with spores, 

 so that the earth was covered with ferruginous dust. Weeks after this", 



