92 
CRYPTOGAMIC KNOWLEDGE IN 1620. 
needs be therefore, that they be made of much moisture ; and 
that moisture, fat, gross and yet somewhat concocted. And, in- 
deed, we find that mushrooms cause the accident which we call 
incubus , or the mare in the stomach. And therefore the surfeit of 
them may suffocate and empoison. And this sheweth that they 
are windy ; and that that windiness is gross and swelling, not 
sharp or griping. And upon the same reason mushrooms are a 
venereous meat. 
547. — It is reported that the bark of white or red poplar, which 
are of the moistest of trees, cut small, and cast into furrows well 
dunged, will cause the ground to put forth mushrooms at all sea- 
sons of the year fit to be eaten. Some add to the mixture leaven 
of bread dissolved in water. 
548. — It is reported, that if a hilly field where the stubble is 
standing, be set on fire in a showery season, it will put forth great 
store of mushrooms. 
549. — It is reported that hartshorn, shaven or in small pieces, 
mixed with dung and watered, putteth up mushrooms. And we 
know hartshorn is of a fat and clammy substance : and it may be 
ox-horn would do the like. 
550. — It hath been reported though it be scarce credible, that ivy 
hath grown out of a stag’s horn ; which they suppose did rather 
come from a confrication of the horn upon the ivy than from the 
horn itself. There is not known any substance but earth, and the 
procedures of earth, as tile, stone, etc. that yieldeth any moss or 
herby substance. There may be trial made of some seeds, as that 
of fennel- seed, mustard-seed, and rape-seed, put into some little 
holes made in the horns of stags or oxen, to see if they will grow. 
551. — There is also another imperfect plant, that in shew is like 
a great mushroom : and it is sometimes as broad as one’s hat ; 
which they call a toad’s stool : but it is not esculent ; and it 
groweth, commonly, by a dead stub of a tree, and likewise about 
the roots of rotten trees : and therefore seemeth to take his juice 
from wood putrified. Which sheweth, by the way, that wood putri- 
fied yieldeth a frank moisture. 
552. — There is a cake that groweth upon the side of a dead tree, 
that hath gotten no name, but it is large and of a chestnut 
colour, and hard and pithy ; whereby it should seem, that even 
dead trees forget not there putting forth ; no more than the car- 
cases of men’s bodies, that put forth hair and nails for a time. 
553. — There is a cod, or bag, that groweth commonly in the 
fields ; that at the first is hard like a tennis ball, and white ; and 
after groweth of a mushroom colour, and full of light dust upon 
the breaking ; and is thought to be dangerous for the eyes if the 
powder gets into them ; and to be good for kibes.* Belike it hath 
a corrosive and fretting nature. 
554. — There is a herb called Jews-ear that groweth upon the 
* Ulcerated chilblains. 
