VEGETABLE BEEF STEAK. I 2 I 



XVIIL— VEGETABLE BEEF STEAK. 



The only successful manner of justifying this rather 

 extraordinary title would be a practical demonstra- 

 tion, which we must leave our readers to do for them- 

 selves, if we can only induce them to make the ex- 

 periment. It is not a name of our own, but one 

 which is tolerably familiar to fungus eaters. Another 

 is " ox tongue," or oak tongue, or tongue of chestnut, 

 from its resemblance, when young, both in form and 

 colour to a tongue. In this country it is usually 

 found on old oaks, but in Italy it is found also on the 

 chestnut. The popular names by which this fungus 

 is known on the Continent stand in evidence that it 

 is recognised by the people generally as something in 

 which they have an interest, that it is a popular 

 object, for only popular objects get for themselves 

 popular names. In spite of our insular prejudices, 

 even the " vegetable beef steak " is gradually be- 

 coming known, and persons with no general know- 

 ledge of fungi have learnt to know and appreciate 

 this comparatively new article of food. There is 

 quite sufficient individuality about this fungus for it 

 to become well known, and readily recognised, with- 

 out the most rudimentary knowledge of fungi, as 

 readily as a beetroot is known without a knowledge 

 of botany. , 



