Preface 



The present booklet is the fourth of a series of popular guides to the plants of 

 Miiniesota, designed for plant-lovers and for classes in botany in high school and 

 college. An equally important object of the guide to mushrooms is to make available 

 with safety the enormous annual crop of mushrooms, which is now almost entirely 

 wasted through fear or neglect. It is perhaps idle to estimate the size or value of 

 this crop, but if that part which is readily accessible is alone considered, the number 

 of pounds will reach into the hundred thousands. Figured on the market price of 

 the cultivated mushroom, the total value of the mushroom crop of the State can 

 hardly be less than a million dollars. Just what would be the effect of utilizing this 

 food supply is a matter of conjecture, hut there can be little doubt that it would 

 prove fortunate from the standpoint of dietetics as well as of economics. 



The text has been made as simple and as concise as seems possible without 

 sacrificing clearness. The plant-lover will find as he becomes acquainted with mush- 

 rooms in nature that they have many charms, apart from those of the palate, and 

 that the study of appearance, behavior, etc., is as fascinating as with flowering plants. 

 'I'he first requisite however is to be able to strike up such an acquaintanceship, and 

 this, together with the unlocking of a store of delicious food, is the chief object of 

 the text. The student who has the time and interest for more extended work with 

 the mushrooms will naturally refer to the more comprehensive books by Atkinson, 

 Mcllvaine, and I-fard. 



In the preparation of keys and descriptions, Saccardo's "Sylloge Fungorum," 

 Peck's "Reports," and the mushroom books just mentioned have been frequently con- 

 sulted. While the majority of the illustrations are original, a large number have 

 been taken from the mushroom books bv Atkinson, Hard, Mcllvaine, Dumee, 

 Michael, AMiite, and from Freeman's "Plant Diseases." Grateful acknowledgment 

 is made to these authors for such use. The writer is indebted to Dr. Edith Clements 

 for the original water color drawings from which the color illustrations have been 

 made, and for the working over of the recipes for cooking mushrooms. He wishes 

 also to acknowledge the aid and interest of the members of the Minnesota Mycological 

 Society, particularly Dr. Mary W'hetstone, Miss Daisy Hone, and Mr. L. F. Lambert. 



Copies of "Minnesota Plant Studies" are furnished free to citizens of Minnesota, 

 upon request to the undersigned. Ten copies are sent free to each high school, 

 academy or college within the State, and additional copies are furnished at cost, 

 twenty-fi"\'e cents per copv. It is hoped that collectors will feel free at all times to 

 send specmiens to the deijartment of botany to be named. Mushrooms can be sent 

 through the mails readily, if they are wrapped in dry paper, and placed in a strong 

 pasteboard box. 



Frederic E. Clements, 

 Professor oi Botany and State Botanist. 

 The University of Minnesota, 

 July, 1910 



