Among the Mushrooms

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Among the Mushrooms, by

Ellen M. Dallas and Caroline A. Burgin This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
Title: Among the Mushrooms A Guide For Beginners
Author: Ellen M. Dallas and Caroline A. Burgin
Release Date: May 26, 2006 [EBook #18452]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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[Illustration (Frontispiece):
1. Craterellus cornucopioides. 2. Cortinarius armillatus. 3. Clitocybe laccata. 4. Tremellodon gelatinosum.]

AMONG THE MUSHROOMS A Guide for Beginners
by
ELLEN M. DALLAS and CAROLINE A. BURGIN
[Illustration]
Toronto / London Drexel Biddle, Publisher
NEW YORK 67 Fifth Avenue PHILADELPHIA 228 South Fourth St. SAN FRANCISCO 319-325 Sansome St.
1900
Copyright, 1900 By A. J. DREXEL BIDDLE
Press of DREXEL BIDDLE, PHILADELPHIA

"Have you not seen in the woods on a late autumn morning a poor fungus or mushroom--a plant without any solidity, nay, that seemed nothing but a soft mush or jelly--by its constant total and inconceivably gentle pushing, manage to break its way up through the frosty ground, and actually to lift a hard crust on its head? It is the symbol of the power of kindness."
Emerson.

PREFACE.
The books which have been consulted in the preparation of this work are, "British Fungi," by Rev. John Stevenson; "British Fungus-Flora," by George Massee; "Mushrooms and their Uses," and "Boleti of the United States," by Professor Charles H. Peck, State Botanist of New York; "Moulds, Mildew and Mushrooms," by Professor L. M. Underwood; and a pamphlet by Mr. C. G. Lloyd, entitled "The Volv? of the United States."
No attempt has been made to do more than to put in popular language the statements of experienced botanists, and so to arrange the matter as to aid beginners in their work.
Thanks are due to Mr. Harold Wingate for his suggestions and corrections of the manuscript; to Mr. C. G. Lloyd for permission to print from his photographs; to Miss Laura C. Detwiller for her paintings from nature, which have been here reproduced; and also to Mrs. Harrison Streeter and Miss Mary W. Nichols for their encouragement of the undertaking and suggestions in furtherance of its success.

CONTENTS.
[Transcriber's Note: The structure of the Table of Contents does not correspond perfectly to the book itself, but all page numbers are correct.]
Page
Introduction, 13 Mushrooms, 23 Antiquity of Fungi, 23 Manner of Growth, 24 Odor, 26 Duration, 27 Uses, 27 Habitat, 28 Structure and growth, 29 Mycelium, 31 The Stem, 34 The Gills, 34 The Spores, 36 The Volva and Veil, 37 The Tubes or Pores, 38
Classification of Fungi, Distinctive Characteristics of Genera. 39 Hymenomycetes, 41 Gasteromycetes, 59 Ascomycetes, 64 By Color of the Spores, 72
General Helps to the Memory, 68
Descriptions of Fungi arranged According to Color of Cap only, 77 Red or Pink, 77 Yellow or Orange, 88 Gray, 100 Green, 106 White, 107 Brown, 115 Purple or Violet, 129
Description of Some Familiar Mushrooms, without regard to color, 131
Direction for Using Keys, 147 Key to Hymenomycetes, 149 Key to Polyporei, 152 Key to Hydnei, 152 Key to Thelephorei, 152 Key to Clavariei, 153 Key to Gasteromycetes and Ascomycetes, 153
Glossary, 155
Index to Descriptions of Fungi, 161
Guide for Determining Genera of Agarics in four Tables, 165
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. FACING PAGE
Craterellus cornucopioides-- Cortinarius armillatus-- Clitocybe laccata-- Tremellodon gelatinosum. Frontispiece. Coprinus atramentarius, 26 Amanita vaginata, 37 Omphalia alboflava, 47 Russula pectinata, 76 Lactarius insulsus, 92 Amanita vaginata, 101 Psathyrella disseminata, 116 Lepiota procera, 120 Boletus edulis-- Hypholoma perplexum-- Marasmius rotula-- Calostoma cinnebarinus, 129 Cortinarius distans, 147

INTRODUCTION.
This book is intended for those who, though ignorant on the subject, desire to know something about mushrooms. The first question which such an one asks upon finding a mushroom is, "What is its name?" If there is no one near to tell him, then follows the second inquiry, "How can I find it out for myself?" If wild flowers were concerned, Gray's little book, "How the Plants Grow," could be used; and there is also Mrs. Dana's book on "The Wild Flowers," that has given so much pleasure. In the case of mushrooms, however, but one answer can be returned to all questions: "There is no American text-book on mushrooms, there is no manual for beginners."
There are many books on British fungi for students, but we want some popular work easy to understand, with no technical expressions.
This necessity for a simple guide-book has been felt by many. Let us give our own experience. We procured a list of works on fungi, and looked for some volume not too deep for our comprehension nor too costly for our purse. Among those we found were "Handbook for Students" (Taylor); "Edible and Poisonous Fungi" (Cooke), and