206 BRITISH EDIBLE FUNGI. 



latter may be combined. Again, if the warted mush- 

 room (Agaricus rubescens) be converted into ketchup, 

 it should 1 be kept pure and unmixed, because the 

 resulting fluid will be pale and mild. The dusky- 

 mushroom [Agaricus nebularis) has never been recom- 

 mended for ketchup, but there is no reason why it 

 should not be successful, especially as a good supply 

 of the fungus is probable wherever it is found at all. 



It will hardly be possible to make a large supply of 

 ketchup from the fairy ring champignon {Marasmius 

 oreades), because it is. so dry in substance that each 

 individual will yield but a very small quantity, and, 

 as the fungus itself is only a little one, an immense 

 number must be collected to produce a batch. 



XXXIL— ABOUT POISONOUS FUNGI. 



Several reasons have influenced us in excluding 

 descriptions of poisonous fungi from this volume. 

 Firstly, because they would not assist in obtaining a 

 knowledge of the edible species, and by error might 

 be confused with them. Secondly, because the 

 popularization of a knowledge of poisons, of any kind, 

 is never desirable, being liable to do more harm than 

 good. Finally, if these reasons have not sufficient 

 weight, that the dimensions decided upon for this 



