man, who first collected it, and furnished the first specimens seen 
by me, tested it, and on his experiment it is classed as edible. I 
would not hesitate to eat it if I could get fresh specimens. 
The Field mushroom, also called the Horse mushroom and 
Meadow mushroom, Agaricus arvensis, has by some been consid- 
ered a mere variety of the Common mushroom. But it differs in 
some respects, and is generally kept as a distinct species in the de- 
scriptive manuals. It generally exceeds the Common mushroom 
in size, and when old or in drying, the cap, which is usually 
white, is apt to assume yellowish hues which do not pertain to 
the other species. The gills, when first exposed, are often whit- 
ish, the stem is hollow, and frequently somewhat thickened at 
the base, and the collar is thicker and appears as if composed of 
two parts closely applied to each other and making a double 
membrane, the lower of which is radiately or stellately split and 
tinged with yellow. The flavor is by some considered inferior to 
that of the Common mushroom, but on this point tastes seem to 
differ. Persoon considered it superior to the Common mush- 
room both in flavor and digestibility, and Vittadini says it is very 
delicate and easy of digestion, but has a stronger odor than the 
Common mushroom. “Very sapid and very nutritious;” “flavor 
anise-like and very agreeable;” “edible and of exquisite flavor;” 
“delicious when young, but tough when old,” are some of the 
opinions concerning it as expressed by various writers. 
It grows in cultivated fields, 
grassy pastures, and waste 
places. Occasionally it is 
found under trees, and even 
within the borders of woods. & 
Tt has been asserted that its @ 
spores must pass through ~ 
the alimentary canal of some 
animal, or else they will not 
germinate. However much 
or little of truth there may be 
in such a statement, it is com- 
mon enough to find this 
mushroom growing in places 
where no trace of the dung of 
animals can be seen. It may “ 
be found here from July to Field Mushroom, 
September. 
‘A beautiful white mushroom, closely resembling the Field 
29 
