Mr. William Saunders, of Washington, D. C.. remarks on the mushroom, Agaricus, as follows, and describes the variety generally cultivated. The Itgaricus e,ampestris, or common mushroom, is the only species that is generally grown artifi cially. It is thus botanically described ; Stipes, (or stalk,) two' or three inches in length, white, solid, fleshy, furnished with an annular veil, (a thin membraneous substance encircling the stalk.) Pileus, (cap, or edible part,) fleshy, dry, convex, convexo-plane, white, changing from yellowish to brownish. Gills, (thin parallel plates, underside of the cap,) free, ventricose, (swelling unequally on one side,) pink, changing to deep purplish brown. Flesh (internal sub stance) white. There are several species of the Agaricus besides the preceding, and also a few varieties of the A. campestris, that are sometimes grown for the table. It is unnecessary to describe Diem here, as those who purchase spawn need be under little apprehension of receiving a spuri ous article; at least so far as my experience goes. I have neveAbeen disappointed in this respect. So far from there being any difficulty in growing them, I venture to say that not one in fifty who makes the attempt will fail. Of course some little attention is requisite, as with everything else artificially circumstanced. A knowledge of the condition under which they are most plentifully found in nature will be of material assistance to the grower. In very dry seasons, mushrooms are most plentiful in low situations, on rather strong soils; on the contrary, should there be much wet, they are more abundant in uplands and drier localities. A continuance of warm, dry weather, followed by slight showers, and a hazy, still atmosphere, brings them most pro fusely. These considerations are worthy of being kept in mind in their artificial culture. There is no particular season for making a mush room-bed. In winter it requires to be under cover, and in summer the difficulty lies in keep ing it cool and moist. Autumn is perhaps the best season for making a bed out of doors; and, if a constant supply be an object, a bed should be made up in some spare cellar about the begin ning of November. Some varieties of edible fungi have been lately described by Dr. Curtis, which we give below; the italics refer to the generic name, and the Roman to the names of varieties: Pleurolue. Ulmarloua, tessulatua, Pometi, glandulosus,
ostreatna, salignue.
Pokypifue. (1. Mesopus.) Leucomelss, ovine, pm- • Inca.
Psalliota. Campeetris, arvensis, amygdalinus, cretaceue, sylvaticus.
Russian. Adusta, lepida, vireeeens.
Ochroleuca, alutacea.
snarissis. Crispa, laminoea.
Tremella. foliacea, rneeenterica.
Tricholoma. Itusarda, frumentacens, nypopitnyne, Col. unibetta. castue, al bellus. consociatus, personatne. Yoh/aria. Bombycinue, specioeue.
Dr. Curtis says that hill and plain, mountain and valley, woods, 'fields, and pastures, swarm with a profusion of good, nutritious fungi, which are allowed to decay where they spring up, because people do not know how, or are afraid, to use them. And adds: By those of us who know their use, their value was appreciated, as never before, during the late war, when other food, especially meat, was scarce and dear. Then such persons as I have heard express a prefer ence for mushrooms over meat had generally no need to lack grateful food, as it was easily had for the gathering, and within easy distance of their homes, if livang'in the country. Such was not always the case, however. I remember once, during the gloomy period when there had been a protracted drought, and fleshy fungi were to be found only in damp shaded woods, and but few even there,. I was unable to find enough of any one species for a meal, so, gather ing of every kmd, I brought.home thirteen differ ent kinds, had them all cooked together in one grand pot pourri, and made an excellent yapper. One important use to which several speciea of fungi can be applied is the manufacture of cat sup. For this purpose, not only is the mush room, Agaricus campestris, and the horse-mush room, Agaricus arvensis, available, but also Agariaus rubescens is declared to be excellent for the purpose, and a delicious, but pale, extract is to be obtained from Harasmius (»wades. Other species, as Coprinus conuctus and Coprinus atramentarius, are also available, together with Fistulina hepatica and Arorceh.ella esculenta. IA some' districts, when mushrooms are scarce, it is stated that almost any species that 'will yield it dark juice is without scruple mired with the, common mushroom, and, it should seem, with. out any bad consequence, except th a deteriora tion of the catsup.