There is but one way by which to determine the edibility of a species. If it looks and smells inviting, and its species can not be determined, taste a very small piece. Do not swallow it. Note the effect on the tongue and mouth. But many species, delicious when cooked, are not inviting raw. Cook a small piece; do not season it. Taste again; if agreeable eat it (unless it is an Amanita). After several hours, no unpleasant effect arising, cook a larger piece, and increase the quantity until fully satisfied as to its qualities. Never vary from this system, no matter how much tempted. No possible danger can arise from adhering firmly to it. Recipes for preparing, cooking and serving are given in chapter on cooking.
It is better for the student to first become familiar with the common species, one at a time, than to attempt tracing the rare or many. Worry, fatigue and uncertainty are plentiful in an indiscriminate gathering of fungi. One species a day, properly traced and named, means learning three hundred and sixty-five species a year.
The Glossary.
Unfamiliar terms will be encountered in the descriptive text. The Glossary defines them; and not only those in this book, but, it is believed, all those found in other books upon fungi. Where possible throughout the text, botanical terms have been anglicized. The meanings of those remaining unchanged should be memorized. It is quite as easy, and far better, to learn the botanical names of species and their characteristics, as to learn their common names; easier in fact, for the common names often vary with locality. The writer received a letter from an Alsatian living in St. Louis, telling him of favorite fungi he used to eat when in his own country. To all he gave local names, not one of which could be referred to the particular species meant.
Success and pleasure in the study of fungi will attend the student who observes carefully and who systematically records that which is observed.
ABBREVIATIONS OF THE NAMES OF AUTHORS
OF SPECIES
| A. and S., | Albertini and Schweinitz |
| Arrh., | Arrhenius |
| B. or Bull., | Bulliard |
| Bad., | Badham |
| Bagl., | Baglietto |
| Bat. or Batsch, | Batsch |
| Batt., | Battara |
| Berk. or M.J.B., | Berkeley |
| Berk. and Br., | Berkeley and Broome |
| Bolt., | Bolton |
| Bon., | Bonorden |
| Boud., | Boudier |
| Boud. and Pat., | Boudier and Patonillard |
| Bref., | Brefeld |
| Bres., | Bresadola |
| Brig., | Briganti |
| Brond., | Brondeau |
| Brot., | Brotero |
| Cav. and Sech., | Cavalier and Séchier |
| C.B.P., | Plowright |
| Chev., | Chevalier |
| Cke., | Cooke |
| Cord., | Corda |
| Crn., | Crouan |
| Cum., | Cumino |
| Curt., | Curtis |
| D. and L., | Durieu and Léveillé |
| D.C., | De Candolle |
| De Guern., | De Guernisac |
| Desm., | Desmazieres |
| Dill., | Dillenius |
| Dittm., | Dittmar |
| Dun., | Dunal |
| Ehrb., | Ehrenberg |
| Ellis or J.B.E., | J.B. Ellis |
| Eng., | English Botany |
| Fayod, | Fayod |
| Fl. d., | Flora danica |
| Forq., | Forquignon |
| Fr., | Elias Fries |
| Fckl. or Fuck., | Fuckel |
| G. or Gill., | Gillet |
| G. and R., | Gillet and Rounreguére |
| God., | Goddard |
| Grév., | Gréville |
| H. and M., | Harkness and Moore |
| Hazs., | Hazslinsky |
| Hedw., | Hedwig |
| Hoffm., | Hoffmann |
| Holmsk., | Holmskiold |
| Huds., | Hudson |
| Huss., | Mrs. T.J. Hussey |
| Jacq., | Jacquin |
| Jungh., | Junghuhn |
| Kalchb., | Kalchbrenner |
| Karst., | Karsten |
| Klotzsch, | Klotzsch |
| K., | Krombholz |
| Lam., | Lamark |
| Lang., | Langlois |
| Lasch, | Lasch |
| Lenz, | Lenz |
| Let., Letell., | Letellier |
| Lév., | Léveillé |
| Leys., | Leysser |
| Lib., | Libert |
| Linn. or L., | Linnæus |
| Mart., | Martius |
| Mich., | Micheli |
| M.J.B., | Berkeley |
| Mont., | Montagne |
| Morg., | Morgan |
| Moug., | Mougeot |
| Müll., | Müller |
| Nees, | Nees |
| Osb., | Osbeck |
| Pat., | Patouillard |
| Paul., | Paulet |
| Pers., | Persoon |
| Pk., | Peck |
| Pol. or Poll., | Pollini |
| Q. or Quel., | Quelet |
| Rab., | Rabenhorst |
| Rav., | Ravenel |
| Relh., | Relhan |
| Retz., | Retzius |
| Riess, | Riess |
| Rost., | Rostkovius |
| Roz., | Roze |
| Roz. and Rich., | Roze and Richon |
| Sacc., | Saccardo |
| Saund. and Sm., | Saunders and Smith |
| Sch., Schaeff., | Schaeffer |
| Schr. or Schrad., | Schrader |
| Schroet., | Schröter |
| Schulz, | Schulz |
| Schum., | Schumacher |
| Schw., | Schweinitz |
| Scop., | Scopoli |
| Sec., | Secretan |
| Somm., | Sommerfelt |
| Sow., | Sowerby |
| Sw., | Swartz |
| T. or Tul., | Tulasne |
| Tod., | Tode |
| Tour., | Tournefort |
| Trat., | Trattinik |
| U. and E., | Underwood and Earle |
| Vent., | Venturi |
| Vill., | Villars |
| Vitt., | Vittadini |
| Wahl., | Wahlenberg |
| Wall., | Wallroth |
| Weinm., | Weinmann |
| Willd., | Willdenow |
| With., | Withering |
| W.P., | Phillips |
| W.G.S., Sm. or Worth. Sm, | Worthington Smith |
| Wulf., | Wulfen |
NAMES OF THE PRINCIPAL REPORTERS OF
AMERICAN SPECIES
| Alabama | Lucien M. Underwood, F.S. Earle (U. and E.). |
| California | H.W. Harkness, Justin P. Moore (H. and M.), Wm. Phillips. |
| Canada | John Dearness. |
| Connecticut | —- Wright. |
| Florida | —- Calkins. |
| Georgia | Berry Benson, H.N. Starnes, Val W. Starnes. |
| Illinois | Frederick J. Brændle. |
| Indiana | H.I. Miller, Dr. J.R. Weist. |
| Iowa | Charles E. Bessey, T.H. Macbride. |
| Kansas | F.W. Cragin, Elam Bartholomew, |
| W.A. Kellerman. | |
| Kentucky | C.G. Lloyd, A.P. Morgan. |
| Louisiana | Rev. A.B. Langlois. |
| Maryland | Miss Mary E. Banning. |
| Massachusetts | Charles C. Frost, W.G. Farlow, James L. Bennett, Charles J. Sprague, Robert K. Macadam, Julius A. Palmer, Hollis Webster. |
| Minnesota | Asa Emory Johnson. |
| Mississippi | U.S. Geological Survey. |
| Missouri | William Trelease. |
| Nebraska | Charles E. Bessey, F.E. Clements, —-- Webber. |
| New Brunswick | A.C. Waghorne, James Fowler. |
| New England | Boston Mycological Club. |
| New Jersey | J.B. Ellis, Benjamin Everhart, E.B. Sterling, Charles McIlvaine. |
| New York | Charles H. Peck, George F. Atkinson, John Torrey. |
| North Carolina | Rev. M.A. Curtis, |
| Rev. Lewis de Schweinitz, | |
| Charles McIlvaine. | |
| Nova Scotia | Dr. John Somers. |
| Ohio | Charles G. Lloyd, A.P. Morgan, W.S. Sullivant. |
| Oregon | Dr. Harry Lane. |
| Pennsylvania | Dr. William Herbst, Rev. Lewis de Schweinitz, Charles McIlvaine, Philadelphia Mycological Center. |
| Rhode Island | James L. Bennett. |
| South Carolina | Dr. H.W. Ravenel. |
| West Virginia | Charles McIlvaine, L.W. Nuttall. |
| Wisconsin | W.F. Bundy, William Trelease. |