wishing to limit the use of fungi to the common mushroom, says, 
“reject all which have the gills white.” This rule, if observed, 
would exclude from use many excellent species. Another says, 
“discard all that have a hollow stem.” This also would prevent 
the use of such valuable species as Ceesar’s mushroom, the smooth 
lepiota, and the delicious lactarius. Again, we are told to avoid 
all that have a viscid cap, and all that when fresh have an acrid 
or hot, peppery taste. These directions, too, would rule out 
son species that have been used and are known to furnish very 
good food. 
The viscidity may be removed from the cap, the harsh flavor 
destroyed by cooking, and the flesh of some such has been found 
to be palatable and nutritious. Also, if we follow the directions 
to take only such species as are found growing in the fields and 
open places, we deprive ourselves of many an excellent dish that 
can be furnished by the edible species of the woods and groves. 
The silver spoon test, which sanctions eating such as do not 
tarnish the spoon when placed among the cooking mushrooms, 
was long ago exploded, for by actual trial it was found to be 
deceptive and unreliable. It has been stated that vinegar has the 
power to absorb or neutralize the poison of the dangerous species, 
and that such, after having been steeped in vinegar, then taken 
ont and washed in clean water, may be cooked and eaten with 
safety. This process is not here recommended. It seems better 
to eat only such as are known to be harmless, without any pick- 
ling process being necessary to make them so. 
Before proceeding to the descriptive part of these articles, it is 
proper to explain the meaning of a few somewhat technical 
terms which it will be necessary or convenient to employ: 
_ The substance of mushrooms is commonly called the flesh, 
though it is unlike the fiesh of animals. 
The seeds or reproductive bodies are termed spores. They are 
as fine as dust and singly invisible to the naked eye. 
The upper expanded part of the plant is commonly known as 
the cap. The botanical name is pileus. It varies in shape ac- 
cording to age and species. 
The spores develop in or on some special part of the cap, in all 
species where a cap is formed. The spore-bearing part of surface 
is botanically designated by the term hymenium, and that part 
on which the hymenium is borne or rests is the hymenophore. 
The minute threads which proceed from the germinating 
spores, and which permeate the soil or other material on which 
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