I02 EDIBLE MUSHROOMS 



alternating for several days ; the skin refuses to be 

 peeled, and in the older, fully opened specimens the 

 centre of the cap is raised in a distinct 

 "True" tiny mound; gills, widely separated, 

 fairy-ring about ten or twelve to the inch at cir- 

 cumference in average specimens, same 

 color as cap, or paler, unequal in length, curving 

 upward on reaching stem, thus '■'free " from apparent 

 contact with it ; stem, equal diameter, tough, fibrous, 

 and tenacious, paler than gills, smooth to the base 

 {no spines nor down) ; cup, none ; spores, white ; taste 

 nutty, somewhat aromatic, appetizing ; habitat usually 

 on lawns or pastures. 



The "ring" was long involved in mystery, being at- 

 tributed to moles, lightning, witchcraft, etc. ; and, 

 clothed with popular^ superstition, has 

 '"'"'^f'th'"* found its way into many folk-legends, 

 mystic " ring " and has figured in the lore of elfs and 

 goblins, to whom, in the absence of 

 scientific knowledge, the strange, fungus-haunted cir- 

 cle was referred, the " ring " being applied not merely 

 to the circle of mushrooms themselves, but especially 

 to the clearly defined ring of clear, fresh grass sur- 

 rounding the central, more faded area. But the fair- 

 ies no longer dance their moonlight rigadoon upon 

 the charmed circle of the champignon, nor do the 

 nimble elves " rear their midnight mushrooms " upon 

 the rings of lush grass as of old, for science has 

 stepped in and cleared up the mystery. The Rev. 

 M. J. Berkeley, in his Outlines to British Fungology, 

 thus completely rescues the " fairy-ring " from the do- 

 main of poetry and reduces it to prosaic fact: 



