imes used as an astringent in fluxes, hemorrhages, &c.or Mushroom, a genus of the order of fungi, belonging to the cryptogamia class of plants.

Species and uses. Botanical writers enumerate 55 species belonging to this genus; of which the most remarkable are the following.

1. The campetris, or common mushroom, has the top or cap first of a dirty cream colour, convex, and, if but just expanding, the under part, or what is called the gills, is of a bright flesh red: this colour lasts but a little time before it turns darker; and when the plant is old, or has been some time expanded, the gills become of a dark brown, the cap almost flat, of a dirty colour, and often a little scaly. It differs much in size in different plants, it being from an inch to seven inches broad. The general use of it is well known. It is found in woods, old pastures, and by road-sides, and is in the greatest perfection in September. There is a variety of this with a yellowish white cap and white gills; this is very firm, but seldom expands so freely as the true sort, and when broiled will exude a yellowish juice. It is probable this sort is not pernicious, though it is always rejected by such as can distinguish it.

2. The pratensis, or champignon, is very common upon heaths and dry pastures. A number of them generally come up in a place, ranged in curved lines or circles. The cap is small, almost flat, from one to two or three inches diameter, of a pale buff colour, often crumpled at the edges, and, when dry, tough like leather or a thin piece of fine cork. The gills are of the colour of the cap; are thinly placed; with a short one, and sometimes two, coming from the edge of the cap between each. The stalk or pillar is also of the colour of the cap; it is long, slender, and all the way of a thickens. This plant has but little smell; is rather dry; and yet, when broiled or stewed, it communicates a good flavour. In perfection at the same time with the former.

3. The chantavellus, or chantarelle agaric, is rather a smaller fungus than the former. The cap is yellow, of different hues in different plants, some being of a pale yellow, and others of an orange colour. It is generally sunk in the middle, somewhat resembling a tunnel, and its edges are often twisted and contorted so as to form sinuses or angles. The gills are of a deeper colour than the outside, are very fine, even, numerous, and beautifully branched. The ramifications begin at the stalk, and are variously extended towards the edge of the cap. The pillar is of the same colour as the cap, is seldom inserted in the centre, but rather sideways; it is short, thickish at the root, and the gills mostly run down the top, which make it appear smallest in the middle. This plant broiled with salt and pepper has much the flavour of a roasted cockle; and is esteemed a delicacy by the French, as is the former. It is found in woods and high pastures, and is in perfection about the end of September.

4. The deliciosus, or orange agaric. The general size Agarics. size of the cap of this species is from two to four inches broad. Its form is circular, with the edges bent inwards; convex on the upper surface, except in the centre, where it is a little depressed, so as nearly to resemble the apex of a smooth apple. The colour is a foddish yellow, streaked with ash and yellowish brown, from the centre to the edge, and when it is broken it emits a gold-colour juice. The gills are of a deep yellow, and a few of them come out by pairs at the stalk, but divide immediately, and run straight to the edge of the cap. The stalk or pillar is thinnest near the middle, thickest at the root, and when cut transversely, it is quite white in the centre, with a fine yellow ring that goes to the edge. This fungus, well seasoned and then broiled, has the exact flavour of a roasted muscle. Its prime time is September, and it is to be found in dry woods.

5. The cinnamomeus, or brown mushroom, has a cap the colour of fresh-tanned hides. At first it is hemispherical, firm, even, and fleecy, with mostly a small rising in the centre; but when old it is quite flat. The gills are of a yellowish brown, not very distant from each other, bent like a knife at the pillar, and have a short one or two run from the edge of the cape between each. The pillar is near the length of a finger, firm, rather thick, brown at the base, of a solid yellow upward, and, when cut transversely, of a fine white grain. The cap in different plants is from two to five inches broad. The whole plant has a pleasant smell, and when broiled gives a good flavour. It is found in woods in September and October.

6. The violaceus, or violet mushroom. Its cap, when first expanded, is smooth, hemispherical, the main surface of a livid colour, but towards the margin it is of a better blue. When full grown or old, it becomes corrugated, and of a rusty brown. The gills of a young plant are of a beautiful violet colour, and regularly placed. The pillar is of the colour of the gills, short, of a conical form, but swelled at the base into a sort of bulb. Its upper part is surrounded with an iron-coloured wool, which, in a plant just expanding, stretches across the edge of the cap like a web. This species requires much broiling; but when sufficiently done and seasoned, it is as delicious as an oyster. It is found in woods in October. Hudson's bulbous is only a variety of this plant.

The above are the only species that can be safely recommended as edible; though there are some other sorts which are frequently eaten by the country people; and it is probable the greatest part of those with firm fleecy caps might be eaten with safety, provided they were chosen from dry grounds. It is well known that soil and situation have a great influence upon the properties of plants; and these being of a fungual nature, and absolutely between that of an animal and vegetable, may be more powerfully affected than a complete species of either, by reason they have neither leaves nor branches to carry off the noxious damps and vapours of a stagnant soil, as a perfect vegetable has; nor have they any gouts excremental discharges, like those of a living animal. The gills do doubt do exhale some of their superfluous moisture; but their situation is such, that any thick steam from the earth may lodge in them, and by clogging their excretory ducts, render the plants morbid. Thus they soon run into a state of putrefaction, and become a prey to worms, flies, and other insects. The common mushroom, which is in general esteem (though we have several others better) is not safely eaten when produced upon a moist soil. Those who gather mushrooms for sale should therefore have particular regard to the lands they collect them from, especially if they know they are to be broiled; but if they be intended for cayenne, perhaps they may be less cautious, as the salt and spices with which the juice is boiled may correct any evil disposition in the plants. But, even in this case, catch-up made of mushrooms taken from a dry soil has a more aromatic and pleasant flavour than that which is made of those taken from a moist one, and it will always keep a great deal better.

Of the poisonous sorts, the two following are the most singular:

7. The mucarius, or reddish mushroom, has a large hat almost flat, either white, red, or crimson, sometimes beset with angular red warts; the gills are white, flat, and inversely spear-shaped; the pillar is hollow, the cap fixed to the middle of the pillar, limber, and hanging down. This species grows in pastures, and is said to destroy bugs effectually if the juice is rubbed upon the walls and bed-posts. The inhabitants of the north of Europe, whose housetops are greatly infested with flies at the decline of summer, infuse it in milk, and set it in their windows, and the flies upon tasting the least drop are instantly poisoned. An infusion of common pepper in milk answers the same purpose: but the flies through time become wise enough not to taste it; and though vast numbers are at first destroyed, it is impossible to clear a house of these insects by this means.—This is the mouchu-more of the Ruffians, Kamtchadales, and Koriacs, who use it as an instrument of intoxication. They sometimes eat it dry, sometimes immersed in a fermented liquor made with the epilobium, which they drink notwithstanding the dreadful effects. They are first seized with convulsions in all their limbs, then with a raving such as attends a burning fever. A thousand phantoms, gay or gloomy (according to their conditions), present themselves to their imaginations; some dance, others are seized with unpeakable horrors. They personify this mushroom; and, if its effects urge them to suicide, or any dreadful crime, they say they obey its commands. To fit themselves for premeditated assassinations, they take the mouchu-more. Such is the fascination of drunkenness among these people, that nothing can induce them to forbear this dreadful potion!

8. The clypeatus, or long-stalked mushroom, has an hemispherical hat tapering to a point, and clammy; the pillar is long, cylindrical, and white; the gills are white, and not concave, dusted with a fine powdery substance on each side; the root is bulbous, long, and hooked at the end. It is found in September, in woodlands and pastures. This species is thought to be poisonous; and we have the following account of the symptoms produced by eating it, in Dr Percival's Essays. "Robert Utherwood, of Middleton, near Manchester, a strong healthy man, aged 50 years, early in the morning gathered and ate what he supposed to be a mushroom. He felt no symptoms of indigestion, till five o'clock in the evening; when, being very thirsty, he drank near a quart of table-beer. Soon afterwards he became universally swollen, was sick, and in great agonies. A severe vomiting and purging succeeded," Agaricus succeeded, with violent cramps in his legs and thighs. He discharged several pieces of the fungus, but with little or no relief. His pains and evacuations continued, almost without intermission, till the next night; when he fell into a sound sleep, and awakened in the morning perfectly easy, and free from complaint.

Many of the different species of this genus grow on cows or horses' dung, on dunghills, on rotten wood, in cellars, or on the trunks of trees; of which the most remarkable is,

9. The quercinus, or agaric of the oak. This is of various sizes, sometimes not exceeding the bigness of the fist, sometimes as large as a man's head. It takes at least an year or two to grow to its full size. It is dark coloured, hard, heavy, and woody; it is sometimes used by the dyers, as an ingredient in the black dye. It tastes at first sweetish in the mouth, but presently becomes very bitter and nauseous. It was formerly an article in the Materia Medica; but is now deservedly rejected from our pharmacopoeias.

Culture. Only the esculent kinds of mushrooms are cultivated; and the following method is used by the gardeners who raise them for sale.—If the young mushrooms cannot be procured from gardens, they must be looked for in rich pastures during the months of August and September; the ground must be opened about their roots, where it is frequently found full of small white knots; which are the off-fests, or young mushrooms. These must be carefully gathered in lumps, with the earth about them; but as this spawn cannot be found in the pasture, except at that season when the mushrooms are naturally produced, it may be searched for at any time in old dunghills, especially where there has been much litter, and it hath not been penetrated by wet so as to rot; it may also be found very often in old hot-beds; or it may be procured by mixing some long dung from the stable, which has not been thrown on a heap to ferment, with strong earth, and put under cover to prevent wet getting to it. The spawn commonly appears in about two months after the mixture is made; but proportionally sooner the more effectually the air is excluded, provided the mixture is not kept too close as to heat. Old thatch, or litter which has lain long abroad so as not to ferment, is the best covering. The spawn has the appearance of white mould shooting out into long strings, by which it may be easily known wherever it is met with.—The beds for receiving the spawn are now to be prepared. These should be made of dung in which there is plenty of litter, but which should not be thrown on a heap to ferment; that dung which has lain spread abroad for a month or longer is best. The beds should be made on dry ground, and the dung laid on the surface; the width at the bottom should be two and a half or three feet, the length in proportion to the quantity of mushrooms desired; then lay the dung about a foot thick, covering it with strong earth about four inches deep. Upon this lay more dung, about ten inches thick; then another layer of earth, still drawing in the sides of the bed, so as to form it like the roof of a house; which may be done by three layers of dung, and as many of earth. When the bed is finished, it must be covered with litter or old thatch, both to prevent its drying too fast and to keep out wet. In this situation it ought to remain eight or ten days, when it will be in a proper temperature to receive the spawn; for this is destroyed by too much heat; though, before planting, it may be kept very dry, not only without detriment, but with considerable advantage.—The bed being in a proper temperature for the spawn, the covering of litter should be taken off, and the sides of the bed smoothed; then a covering of light rich earth, about an inch thick, should be laid all over the bed; but this should not be wet. Upon this the spawn must be thrust, laying the lumps two or three inches asunder; then gently cover this with the same light earth, above half an inch thick; and put the covering of litter over the bed, laying it so thick as to keep out wet, and prevent the bed from drying. In spring or autumn the mushrooms will begin to appear, perhaps in a month after making; but when the beds are made in summer or winter, they are much longer before they produce. In any season, however, they ought not to be hastily destroyed; since mushroom-beds have been known to produce very plentifully, even after the spawn has lain in them five or six months. When the beds are destroyed, the spawn should be carefully preserved, and laid up in a dry place, at least five or six weeks before it is again planted.—The difficulty of managing mushroom-beds is, to keep them always in a proper degree of moisture. In the summer season they may be uncovered to receive gentle showers of rain at proper times; and in long dry seasons the beds should now and then be watered, but much wet ought by no means to be suffered to come to them. During the winter season they must be kept as dry as possible, and so closely covered as to keep out cold. In frosty, or very cold weather, if some warm litter, shaken out of a dungh-heap, is laid on, the growth of the mushrooms will be promoted: but betwixt this and the bed, a covering of dry litter must be interposed; which should be renewed as it decays; and, as the cold increases, the covering must be thickened. By attending to these directions, plenty of mushrooms may be produced all the year round. One bed will continue good for many months. For a peculiar, perhaps fabulous, method of producing mushrooms, see the article Lyncurius.

Physicians have disputed much about the qualities of mushrooms; some considering them as a rich nourishment, and perfectly innocent, when properly chosen; and others afflicting them to be extremely deleterious. Most of the fungi are indeed of a hurtful quality; and, with respect to the whole tribe, the esculent are very few. Escolent mushrooms are very nutritious, very readily alkaline, and more so without intermediate acidity than any other vegetable; they are therefore a rich nourishment, and much akin to animal food; on which account they may be indulged in considerable quantity to strong persons. It requires, however, skill to distinguish this esculent kind; and very few, especially of those who are commonly employed to gather them, viz. the servants, have studied Clusius, or other authors who have been at the pains to distinguish them. Perhaps our esculent mushrooms, if old, acquire a dangerous acrimony; and for these reasons Dr Cullen is of opinion that it is for the most part prudent to avoid them. In the warmer climates they may be used as light food; but here it is preposterous to use them along with animal food, as they do not correct its alkaline tendency.