USES. 
grows in great quantities in oak forests, and may be obtainea 
by the cart-load in its season; but to his taste, and that of his 
family, it is the most unpalatable of fungi, nor could he find any 
of the most passionate mycophagists who would avow that they 
liked it. There is a disagreeable saline flavour that they could 
not remove nor overlay. In addition to these, the same autho- 
rity enumerates Agaricus russula, Scheeff., Agaricus hypopithyus, 
Curt., and Agaricus consociatus, Curt., the latter two being con- 
fined to the United States; Agaricus columbetta, Fr., found in 
Britain, but not eaten, as well as Agaricus radicatus, Bull. Agari- 
cus bombycinus, Scheff., and Agaricus speciosus, Fr., are found in 
Britain, but by no means common; Agaricus squarrosus, Mull, 
has always been regarded with great suspicion in this country, 
where it is by no means uncommon ; Agaricus cretaceus, Fr., and 
Agaricus sylvaticus, Scheff., are close allies of the common 
mushroom. 
Dr. Curtis says that hill and plain, mountain and valley, 
woods, fields, and pastures, swarm with a profusion of good 
nutritious fungi, which are allowed to decay where they spring 
up, because people do not know how, or are afraid, to use them. 
By those of us who know their use, their value was appreciated, 
as never before, during the late war, when other food, especially 
meat, was scarce and dear. Then such persons as I have heard 
express a preference for mushrooms over meat had generally no 
need to lack grateful food, as it was easily had for the gathering, 
and within easy distance of their homes if living in the country. 
Such was not always the case, however. I remember once, during 
the gloomy period when there had been a protracted drought, 
and fleshy fungi were to be found only in damp shaded woods, 
and but few even there, I was unable to find enough of any one 
species for a meal, so, gathering of every kind, I brought home 
thirteen different kinds, had them all cooked together in one 
grand pot pourri, and made an excellent supper. 
' One important use to which several species of fungi can be 
applied, is the manufacture of ketchup. Jor this purpose, not 
only is the mushroom, Agaricus campestris, and the horse mush- 
room, Agaricus arvensis, available, but also Agaricus rubescens 
