FRAGRANT MUSHROOMS. 1 47 



stem, but hardly two inches long, sometimes not 

 more than one. The gills are rather broad, attached 

 to, and a little inclined to run down the stem ; they 

 are not white but of a greyish or ashy tint. It has 

 been several times figured in books, but in most cases 

 as a failure, for there is a subtlety about the colour 

 which seems to evade the artist. Of the odour, how- 

 ever, there is no mistake, and will at any time prove 

 sufficient for its identification. 



There is another similar species, with a greyish cap, 

 becoming dirty white, but it is so rare that it has 

 only been recognized in Britain on two occasions. It 

 is equally fragrant (Agaricus Trogii) and equally good 

 eating. 



The other fragrant species to which a special 

 attention should be directed is by no means un- 

 common amongst grass in woods in the autumn. It 

 is the most common of the fragrant species, but is, 

 unfortunately, very small {Agaricus fragrans) ; the cap 

 is not more than an inch in diameter, often less, but 

 it seldom grows alone ; where one is found you may 

 expect to find twenty. The odour is almost identical 

 with that of the green, sweet mushroom, but hardly so 

 strong. It also is of a dry, tough texture, and may be 

 flattened and placed in a pocket-book, so that for 

 a long time the opening of the book allows the odour 

 to escape. The cap is convex, almost hemispherical, 

 with a dimple at the top, but it rarely becomes funnel- 

 shaped ; its colour when quite dry is creamy white, 



