The discoloration of silver (8) is a test as old as Pliny at least, a world-wide popular touchstone for the detection of deleterious fungi, but useful only in the fact that it will often exclude a poison not contemplated in the discrimination. On this point, especially as it affords opportunity to emphasize a common disappointment of the mushroom-eater, I quote from a recent work by Julius A. Palmer (see Bibliography, No. 3): "Mushrooms decay very rapidly. In a short time a fair, solid fungus becomes a mass of maggots which eat its tissue until its substance is honey-combed; these cells, on a warm day, are charged with the vapors of decomposition. Now you put such mushrooms as these (and I have seen just such on the markets of Boston and London) over the fire. In boiling, sulphuretted hydrogen or other noxious gases are liberated; you stir with a bright spoon and it is discolored; proud of your test, you throw away your stew. Now this is right, but if from this you conclude that all fungus which discolors silver is poisonous and that which leaves it bright is esculent, you are in dangerous error. It is the same with fish at sea. Tradition says that you must fry a piece of silver with them and throw them away if it discolors. Certainly the experiment does no harm, and shows a decomposition in both cases which might have been detected without the charm." Opposed to this so-called talisman, how grim is the fact that the deadliest of all mushrooms, the Amanita, in its fresh condition, has no effect upon silver.
Worthless popular tests
The change of color in fracture (9) has long been a ban to the fungus as food. But this would exclude several very delicious species, which turn bluish, greenish, and red when broken—viz., Boletus subtomentosus ([Plate 22]), Boletus strobilaceus ([Plate 23]), and Lactarius ([Plate 18]).
The "toadstools" with "sticky tops" thus discriminated against (10) include a number of esculent species, Boleti and Russulæ, and others, as do also the varieties with side-stems (11)—viz., Agaricus ulmarius ([Plate 15]), Fistulina hepatica ([Plate 25]), Agaricus ostreatus ([Plate 14]), etc.
The clustered fungi (12) have long been included in the black-list without reason, as witness the following esteemed esculent species: The Shaggy-mane ([Plate 16]), Coprinus atramentarius ([Plate 17]), Oyster mushroom ([Plate 14]), Elm mushroom ([Plate 15]), Puff-balls ([Plate 34]), and Champignon ([Plate 8]).
To exclude all fungi which grow in dark, damp places (13) is a singular inconsistency, as in some localities this would eliminate the very one species of "mushroom" admittedly eatable by popular favor. In many countries these are regularly cultivated for market in dark, damp, subterranean caverns or in cellars. Indeed, the "dark, damp place" would appear to be the ideal habitat of this the "only mushroom!"
Equally absurd is the discrimination against those growing on wood (14), which again deprives us of the delicious Hydnum ([Plate 27]), the Beefsteak ([Plate 25]), Oyster mushroom ([Plate 14]), Elm mushroom ([Plate 15]), and many others, including Puff-balls ([Plate 34]). If we exclude those growing upon or near manure (15), we shall be obliged to omit the Coprinus group (Plates [16] and [17]), and often the "reel mushroom" as well.
Among the bright-colored species (16), it is true, are many dangerous individuals, as, for instance, the deadly Fly Amanita of [Plate 4], and the emetic Russula ([Plate 13]), but on this fiat we should have to reject the other brilliant esculent Russulæ (Plates [11] and [12]), the brilliant yellow Chantarelle ([Plate 19]), the Lactarius ([Plate 18]), and various other equally palatable and wholesome species.
Worthless popular tests
The objection against milky mushrooms (17) would serve to exclude the poisonous species of Lactarius, but would thus include at least two of the delicious species of the group, L. deliciosus, with orange milk ([Plate 18]), and L. piperatus, another species with white milk not figured in this volume.