CALENDAR FOR SEPTEMBER. 
215 
CALENDAR FOR SEPTEMBER. 
There are comparatively few of our native flowering plants 
but have bloomed earlier in the season, but the time is ap¬ 
proaching when cryptogamic forms of vegetation become 
numerous, and are highly deserving of observation. Of the 
many hundreds of these plants found in the British Isles, a veiy 
few are applied to use as articles of food, a few sea-weeds and 
mushrooms being, I believe, all so used in this country. Among 
Fungi, about four species of Agarics—the common or true 
mushroom, the horse-mushroom, and two sorts of champignons, 
_with the morel and truffle, are nearly all that are used in 
cookery among us. Occasionally a few other mushrooms may 
be collected and sold in the markets for making catsup, but this 
is more the result of accident than otherwise. Still it is im¬ 
portant that no other mushrooms should be used either in a 
recent state or for boiling down, than those indicated above, as 
accidents occur almost every year, either from using poisonous 
species, or from inattention in cooking. This last operation 
should be particularly attended to, the mushrooms whether 
stewed or broiled being thoroughly done, and plenty of salt 
used with them. Heat almost entirely dissipates the poisonous 
properties of Fungi, and renders them less hurtful, although 
even then they are not esteemed very digestible. The use of 
mushrooms is general among all classes in the country during 
their natural season ; the morel and truffle are seldom seen but 
at the tables of the affluent. The collection of the last does 
not appear to be carried to that extent in this country to which 
it might be; at any rate they appear tolerably plentiful in most 
situations in the south of England on the chalk, and no doubt, 
on other soils as well. Its underground habitat is not very 
favourable to the observation of its method of growth and 
propagation, but it is to be hoped we shall not remain long 
without sufficient knowledge to attempt its artificial culture 
with more success than has hitherto rewarded the few who 
have been sufficiently enterprising to try. . , 
In the flower-garden little remains to be done but to keep it 
neat and clean, removing all plants as they fade, and leaving 
the beds in the neatest possible state for the winter, whethei 
by filling them with evergreens, preparing them for spiing bulbs, 
