﻿78 
  A 
  PLAIN 
  AND 
  EAST 
  ACCOUNT 
  

  

  having 
  a 
  lateral 
  stem 
  is 
  found 
  on 
  almost 
  every 
  decayed 
  

   ash, 
  and 
  sometimes 
  on 
  other 
  trees. 
  It 
  has 
  a 
  pale 
  ochre- 
  

   tinted 
  pileus, 
  somewhat 
  of 
  a 
  fan 
  shape, 
  with 
  the 
  surface 
  

   covered 
  with 
  darker 
  scales 
  (PL 
  16). 
  The 
  stem 
  is 
  thick 
  

   and 
  dark-coloured, 
  the 
  pores 
  running 
  some 
  distance 
  

   down 
  it. 
  It 
  is 
  extremely 
  various 
  in 
  size, 
  occasionally 
  

   attaining 
  enormous 
  dimensions, 
  perhaps 
  seven 
  feet 
  in 
  

   circumference, 
  and 
  weighing 
  forty-two 
  pounds. 
  We 
  have 
  

   already 
  alluded 
  to 
  the 
  rapidity 
  of 
  its 
  growth.* 
  We 
  

   have 
  seen 
  drawings 
  of 
  exceedingly 
  curious 
  forms 
  that 
  

   have 
  heen 
  found 
  growing 
  in 
  cellars. 
  The 
  edible 
  qualities 
  

   of 
  this 
  species 
  cannot 
  be 
  declared 
  first-rate. 
  Mrs. 
  Hussey, 
  

   who 
  is 
  a 
  very 
  good 
  judge 
  in 
  such 
  matters, 
  says 
  one 
  might 
  

   as 
  well 
  think 
  of 
  eating 
  saddle-flaps. 
  Young 
  specimens, 
  

   before 
  they 
  have 
  acquired 
  the 
  leathery 
  consistency, 
  

   would 
  serve 
  for 
  an 
  occasional 
  meal. 
  In 
  this 
  stage 
  they 
  

   are 
  prepared 
  for 
  the 
  table 
  in 
  some 
  parts 
  of 
  the 
  Con- 
  

   tinent. 
  A 
  more 
  suitable 
  application, 
  and 
  one 
  strongly 
  

   recommended 
  to 
  those 
  who, 
  in 
  these 
  hirsute 
  days, 
  

   require 
  such 
  an 
  instrument, 
  is 
  to 
  select 
  a 
  large 
  tough 
  

   specimen, 
  and 
  after 
  drying 
  it 
  carefully, 
  cut 
  it 
  into 
  shape, 
  

   and 
  employ 
  it 
  as 
  a 
  razor 
  strop. 
  A 
  person 
  who 
  has 
  had 
  

   one 
  in 
  use 
  for 
  many 
  years, 
  says 
  that 
  it 
  is 
  far 
  superior 
  to 
  

   the 
  majority 
  of 
  those 
  offered 
  for 
  sale. 
  Another 
  Poly- 
  

   porus 
  {P. 
  betulums), 
  without 
  a 
  stem, 
  and 
  not 
  uncom- 
  

   monly 
  found 
  growing 
  on 
  birch-trees, 
  is 
  equally 
  available 
  

   for 
  the 
  same 
  purpose. 
  

  

  Two 
  other 
  species 
  are 
  recommended 
  as 
  esculent, 
  

   although 
  neither 
  of 
  them 
  is 
  at 
  all 
  common 
  in 
  our 
  

  

  • 
  Page 
  G. 
  

  

  