ely say there is no known
rule by which the good can be distinguished from the bad. The only safe
way is to know each species by its own individual peculiarities--to know
them as we know our friends.

The student of mycology has before him a description of each species,
which must tally with the plant in hand and which will soon render him
familiar with the different features of the various genera and species,
so he can recognize them as readily as the features of his best friends.

=WHAT ANYONE MAY EAT.= In the spring of the year there comes with the
earliest flowers a mushroom so strongly characteristic in all its forms
that no one will fail to recognize it. It is the common morel or sponge
mushroom. None of them are known to be harmful, hence here the beginner
can safely trust his judgment. While he is gathering morels to eat he
will soon begin to distinguish the different species of the genera. From
May till frost the different kinds of puff-balls will appear. All
puff-balls are good while their interior remains white. They are never
poisonous, but when the flesh has begun to turn yellow it is very
bitter. The oyster mushroom is found from March to December and is
always a very acceptable mushroom. The Fairy Rings are easily recognized
and can be found in any old pasture during wet weather from June to
October. In seasonable weather they are usually very plentiful. The
common meadow mushroom is found from September to frost. It is known by
its pink gills and meaty cap. There is a mushroom with pink gills found
in streets, along the pavements and among the cobble stones. The stems
are short and the caps are very meaty. It is A. rodmani. These are found
in May and June. The horse mushroom has pink gills and may be found
from June to September. The Russulas, found from July to October, are
generally good. A few should be avoided because of their acrid taste or
their strong odor. There is no time from early spring till freezing
weather when you can not find mushrooms, if the weather is at all
favorable. I have given the habitat and the time when each species can
be found. I should recommend a careful study of these two points. Read
the descriptions of plants which grow in certain places and at certain
times, and you will generally be rewarded, if you follow out the
description and the season is favorable.

=HOW TO PRESERVE MUSHROOMS.= Many can be dried for winter use, such as
the Morels, Marasmius oreades, Boletus