42 EDIBLE AND POISONOUS MUSHROOMS. 



white, or with a faint tinge of pale primrose, 

 the spores being white. There is a peculiar 

 fragrance, not distinctly sweet-scented, but 

 rather " mushroomy," and the flavour is 

 mild. The dry substance of the entire 

 fungus is an indication that care must be 

 employed in cooking to prevent its becom- 

 ing tough. Some persons are more enthusi- 

 astic than ourselves in adulation of this 

 esculent, and have declared it to be "the 

 very best of all our fungi." It is most 

 useful for flavouring, will furnish an 

 excellent white sauce akin to ketchup, is 

 invariably safe, but is better for immediate 

 use when collected in moist weather, and 

 then, broiled in butter, it is highly com- 

 mended. With common-sense and moderate 

 care it is hardly possible to confound it 

 with any other species. 



