Mushroom and Toadstools / How to Distinguish Easily the Differences Between Edible and Poisonous Fungi

“O, mickle is the powerful grace, that lies In plants, herbs, stones, and their true qualities; For nought so vile that on the earth doth live, But to the earth some special good doth give.” Rom. and Jul., Act II., Sc. 3.
LONDON: WYMAN AND SONS, PRINTERS, GREAT QUEEN STREET, LINCOLN’S-INN FIELDS, W.C.
MUSHROOMS AND TOADSTOOLS:
HOW TO DISTINGUISH EASILY THE
Differences between Edible and Poisonous Fungi.
WITH FIGURES OF TWENTY-NINE EDIBLE AND THIRTY-ONE POISONOUS SPECIES.
WORTHINGTON G. SMITH, F.L.S., M.A.I.
THIRD EDITION.
LONDON: HARDWICKE AND BOGUE, 192 PICCADILLY. 1876.

“The proof of the Fungus is in the eating.” I have constantly eaten every species figured on the “Edible Sheet,” and many others that are not. Few, I imagine, will expect me to have eaten every species on the “Poisonous Sheet,” bearing, as they do, such adjective names as “gloomy,” “fiery,” “satanical,” “inflaming,” &c.
However, years ago, without a proper guide and with very little experience, I more than once became personally acquainted with the unpleasant qualities of one or two dangerous species , the particulars of which will be found in the proper place.