However greatly these varieties may differ one from another, there is a general resemblance which is constant.
Agaricus campestris, as a wild plant, is usually found during the late summer and autumn, al though in sections of the country where the win ters are light and the spring of some length, they may appear in some quantity during June. This refers only to general conditions, for in special localities, as, for example, in California, the mush room may occur in greatest abundance after the beginning of the winter rains, coming in abund antly in early January.
One should not be content to use merely this one group of mushrooms, but should gradually acquire a knowledge of other groups concerning which there can be no question of edibility and no possibility of mistake. As the interest increases, definite knowledge of species will be acquired, and one will find himself able to utilize a number of the more valuable species as readily as he may utilize the berries of the field or the game of the woods. Attention may therefore be called to a few groups of mushrooms to which the amateur might first give consideration, and also to a few forms which it is well at the outset entirely to avoid.
For home consumption there is no group of fungi more easily secured than certain species of the Ink Caps, belonging to the genus Coprinus. The characters of the Ink Caps, in general, are the umbrella shape, a very slight indication of an annulus, gills becoming black, and, best of all, the gills, and sometimes the whole plant, becoming deliquescent with age, so that, as the plant matures, the gills break down from the edges of the pileus toward the center, and the whole plant may even tually disappear in an inky mass. The two more common species of this group are, the one named Coprinus (C. comatus, Fig. 704), sometimes known as Shag Mane, a plant which attains a height of six to nine inches, with an oval or oblong pileus and shaggy surface, becoming gradually deliquescent. It is large and fleshy, with excellent flavor. It can he found in limns and meadows, and in grassy places anywhere, and is usually most frequent dur ing the spring months. The plants are more or less solitary, or in loose groups. The other species, which is important because of its size and flavor, is the true Ink Cap (Coprinus atramentarius, Fig.
705). As a rule, this species is found in similar situations as the above, but in closer tufts, and usually it is more frequent. The life of the plant above the surface of the ground is at most but a few days, when it also disappears in the manner of other members of this group.
From what has been said, it is evident that the Coprini are not to be used for market purposes. When found they should be immediately used. The flesh is not so firm as that of other species, there fore care must be used in the preparation of these for food in order that they may be most appetizing.
There are other brown or brown-black spored forms which are desirable, and so far as at pres ent known, no species is poisonous. The more desirable forms, however, should be learned by gradual experience.
Among the Agarics which have white spores, there is a genus which contains several highly poisonous species. The general characters of the group may be briefly indicated. The plant is umbrella-shaped. There is an annulus borne in the characteristic fashion near the upper end of the stem, and, in addition, there is an appendage of the stem, known as a volva, which is to be found at or near the base of the stem in the form of a definite ridge or sheath. In either case it is what remains about the stem of the universal veil which inclosed the young plant before it assumed its definite umbrella form. Sometimes the whole plant breaks through this sheath and no markings of the uni versal veil are left on the cap. Again, to the sur face of the cap the veil is adherent, and, as the cap expands, it may be broken up into scales or floccose patches. The gills are white in the poisonous spe cies. The two species which every one should learn to know are the Fly Agaric (Amanita mus cania, Fig. 245) and the Destroying Angel (A. phalloides, Fig. 246). In Europe, the Royal mush room (Amanita Cmsarea, Fig. 707) is regarded as one of the most delicious wild species. It was even regarded as the chief delicacy among the mush rooms, aside from the truffles, in the times of the Romans. That is, it is this species, probably, which in Latin literature is referred to under the name "Boletus," a term now unfortunately applied to a very different group of fungi, as subsequently mentioned.