90 FUNGI. 
is declared to be excellent for the purpose, and a delicious, but 
pale, extract is to be obtained from Marasmius oreades. Other 
species, as Coprinus comatus, and Coprinus atramentarius, are 
also available, together with Listulina hepatica, and Morchella 
esculenta. In some districts, when mushrooms are scarce, it is 
stated that almost any species that will yield a dark juice is 
without scruple mixed with the common mushroom, and it 
should seem without any bad consequence except the deteriora- 
tion of tke ketchup.* There is an extensive manufacture of 
ketchup conducted at Lubbenham, near Market Harborough, 
but the great difficulty appears to be the prevention of decom- 
position. Messrs. Perkins receive tons of mushrooms from 
every part of the kingdom, and they find, even in the same 
species, an immense difference in the quality and quantity of 
the produce. The price of mushrooms varies greatly with the 
season, ranging between one penny and sixpence per pound. 
Messrs. Perkins are very careful in their selection, but little 
discrimination is used by country manufacturers on a small 
scale, who use such doubtful species as Agaricus lacrymabundus, 
with Agaricus spadiceus, and a host of allied species, which they 
characterize as nonpareils and champignons. In the eastern 
counties Agaricus arvensis has the preference for ketchup. 
The gencrie distinctions between the genuine Agarics and 
some of the allied genera can hardly be appreciated by the non- 
botanical reader, but we have nevertheless preferred grouping 
the edible species together in a somewhat botanical order; and, 
pursuing this plan, the next species will be those of Coprinus, 
in which the gills are deliquescent after the plant has arrived 
at maturity. The maned mushroom (Coprinus comatus, Fr.)+ 
is the best of edible species in this group. It is very common 
here by roadsides and other places, and whilst still young and 
cylindrical, and the gills still whitish or with a roseate tint, it 
is highly to be commended. Similar, but perhaps somewhat 
inferior, is Coprinus atramentarius, Fr.,f equally common about 
* Berkeley, ‘‘ Outlines of British Fungology,” p. 64. 
+ Cooke, ‘‘ Easy Guide to British Fungi,” pl. 11. 
t Ibid, pl. 12. 
