[170] The reader must not conclude from this that soil, any more than age, will account for such differences; there is a variety of Ag. alutaceus, described by Vittadini, which he says is “endowed with a very caustic taste, smelling of pepper, and to be avoided.” The kind generally found in England is probably the same as this, which Bulliard has described under the name of Ag. alutaceus acris.
[171] “Sospettando ragionevolmente dietro le esperienze del Krapf e del Roques che questo fungo potesse esser nocivo all’ uomo e non agli animali, ho voluto anch’io sperimentarlo su di me stesso.”—Vitt.
[172] I lately found a single specimen of it, which Vittadini says is rare.
[173] On the Poplar and Willow, according to Vittadini; Apple and Laburnum, on the authority of Berkeley; Elm and Ash, on my own.
[174] In some specimens the gills are all solitary.
[175] Vitt.
[176] It is probable that the varieties here referred to belonged to Ag. euosmus, B. Care must be taken to distinguish between the two, as Ag. euosmus is an unsafe species.—Ed.
[177] Vitt.
[178] A countryman, last spring (1847), stumbled upon a large quantity in the neighbourhood of Chiselhurst, Kent, and being struck with their appearance gathered some, and took them to a medical man of the place, who, not recognizing the plant, suffered the whole to perish! He has since been made aware of his mistake.
[179] It is a common fraud in the Italian market for the salesmen to soak them in water; which increases their weight, but spoils their flavour.