Mushrooms, Fungi, or Toadstools 393 



Next, "not one of the fungi known to be deadly gives 

 warning by appearance or flavor of the presence of poison." 

 (Mcllvaine.) 



The color of the cap proves nothing. The color of the 

 spores, however, does tell a great deal; which is unfortunate 

 as one cannot get a spore print in less than several hours. 

 But it is the first step in identification; therefore the Scout 

 should learn to make a spore print of each species he 

 would experiment with. 



To make spore prints. Cover some sheets of blue or 

 dark gray paper with a weak solution of gum arabic — one 

 tablespoonful of dry gum to one pint of water; let this dry. 

 Unless you are in a hurry in which case use it at once. 



Take the cap of any full-grown toadstool, place it gill 

 side down upon the gummed paper, cover tightly with a 

 bowl or saucer and allow to stand undisturbed for eight or 

 ten hours. The moisture in the plant will soften the 

 gummed surface if it is dry; the spores will be shed and 

 will adhere to it, making a perfect, permanent print. Write 

 the name, date, etc., on it and keep for reference. Some 

 of the papers should be black to show up the white spored 

 kinds. 



It will be found most practical for the student to divide 

 all mushrooms, not into two, but into three, groups. 



First. A very small group of about a dozen that are 

 poisonous and must be let alone. 



Second. A very large group that are good wholesome 

 food. 



Third. Another very large group that are probably 

 good and worthy of trial if it is done judiciously, but have 

 not yet been investigated. 



Scientists divide them into: 

 Gilled toadstools 

 Pore bearers 



