294.The TRUFFLE(Tuber cibarium)is a globular, solid, and warty fungus, without root, which grows at the depth of four or five inches beneath the surface of the earth, and is from the size of a pea to that of a potatoe.
294.The TRUFFLE(Tuber cibarium)is a globular, solid, and warty fungus, without root, which grows at the depth of four or five inches beneath the surface of the earth, and is from the size of a pea to that of a potatoe.
This, one of the best of the edible funguses, is chiefly found in hilly woods and pastures, which have a sandy or clayey bottom; and occurs on the downs of Wiltshire, Hampshire, and Kent. Truffles are generally discovered by means of dogs, which are taught to hunt for them by scent; and wherever they smell one of them, they bark, and scratch it up. In Italy they are hunted, in somewhat similar manner, by pigs.
Truffles are either served at table roasted in a fresh state like potatoes, or they are cut into slices and dried, as an ingredient for sauces and soups. Those that are most delicious are internally of white colour, and have somewhat the odour of garlic.
In England truffles seldom exceed the weight of four or five ounces; whilst on the Continent they are known to weigh as much as fifteen or sixteen ounces each.
295.The PUFF-BALL(Lycoperdon bovista)is a round kind of fungus, which is filled with a soft whitish flesh when young, and a fine brown powder when ripe.
295.The PUFF-BALL(Lycoperdon bovista)is a round kind of fungus, which is filled with a soft whitish flesh when young, and a fine brown powder when ripe.
Thepowderof the puff-ball is sometimes used as a styptic, to prevent the bleeding of recent wounds. This powder is extremely subtile, and is very injurious to the eyes. Instances have occurred of persons who, having had it blown into their face, have thereby been deprived of their sight for a considerable time; and have also been affected with violent pain and inflammation.
There is a curious experiment of taking a shilling from the bottom of a vessel of water, without wetting the hand. This is said to be effected by strewing a small quantity of the dust of the puff-ball on thesurface; it so strongly repels the fluid as to form a covering for the fingers, and defend them from the contact of the water.
The fumes of the puff-ball, when burnt, have a powerfully narcotic quality; and, on this account, they are sometimes used to take the combs from hives without destroying the bees.
296.The COMMON MUSHROOM(Agaricus campestris)is a fungus consisting of a white cylindrical stalk and a convex cover of white or brownish colour, which has beneath an irregular arrangement of gills, pinky when young, but afterwards of dark liver colour.When it first appears above ground the mushroom is smooth and nearly globular, and in this state it is called abutton.
296.The COMMON MUSHROOM(Agaricus campestris)is a fungus consisting of a white cylindrical stalk and a convex cover of white or brownish colour, which has beneath an irregular arrangement of gills, pinky when young, but afterwards of dark liver colour.
When it first appears above ground the mushroom is smooth and nearly globular, and in this state it is called abutton.
In England mushrooms are in great demand for the table. They are found wild in parks, and other pastures where the turf has not been ploughed for many years; and the best time for gathering them is in the months of August and September.
They are eaten fresh, either stewed or broiled; and are preserved for use either by drying, by being pickled, or in powder. They are also employed in making the well-known sauce called mushroom ketchup. As an article of food, however, mushrooms are by no means wholesome, being so tough, and having so great a resemblance to soft leather, as to be almost indigestible. This is particularly the case when they are of large size.
Mushrooms may be raised artificially on beds constructed for the purpose, even in cellars; for if they have only warmth and moisture, the plants will vegetate without light; but the most proper situations for them are under sheds in the open air. The plants thus grown, however, have more toughness than such as grow wild in the fields; and, in other respects, are much inferior to them.
297. There is a kind of mushroom (Agaricus georgii) which is yellowish, with yellowish white gills, and whenfull grown is sometimes so large as to measure eighteen inches across. This is occasionally eaten, but, in many instances, the use of it has been attended with injurious consequences.
298. In Covent Garden market a tall and spongy kind of mushroom (Agaricus procerus), with white gills, and a large horizontal ring round the stem, is frequently exposed for sale about the month of September.
299. On hedge-banks, in pastures, and in what are called fairy-rings, there is a species of mushroom (Agaricus orcades), with brownish or watery white gills, two or four in a set, a pale brown, convex, and irregular cover, and a whitish stem. These are considered by many persons to be thechampignonsof the French cooks. They have a much higher flavour than the common mushroom: but from their leathery nature are indigestible, except in the form of powder, with sauces, or in ketchup, in all of which they are very admirable.
With respect to the plants of the mushroom tribe, it ought to be observed that, though several of them are edible, many are extremely poisonous. Instances of the fatal effects arising from an indiscriminate adoption of them are innumerable. Great caution, therefore, is requisite that such only shall be used as are ascertained to be wholesome, particularly as, in many instances, the poisonous species can scarcely be distinguished by the eye from such as are innoxious. In cases of injury arising from poisonous funguses, the best remedy that can be administered is an emetic.
300.SPUNK, or TOUCHWOOD(Boletus igniarius),is a fungus somewhat shaped like a horse's hoof, with pores on the under side, and the upper part very hard and smooth, but marked with circular bands or ridges of different colours.It grows horizontally on the trunks and large branches of several kinds of trees, when old and decayed.
300.SPUNK, or TOUCHWOOD(Boletus igniarius),is a fungus somewhat shaped like a horse's hoof, with pores on the under side, and the upper part very hard and smooth, but marked with circular bands or ridges of different colours.
It grows horizontally on the trunks and large branches of several kinds of trees, when old and decayed.
In Germany, and in some parts of England, this fungus is used as tinder, for which, on account of its readily catching fire, it is well adapted. It is prepared by being boiled in a strong ley, dried, and again boiled in a solution of salt-petre. In Franconia pieces of the inner substance of the spunk are beaten so as to resemble leather, and are sewed together for making garments. The inhabitants of Lapland frequently burn it about their cottages, to keep off a species of gad-fly which is peculiarly injurious to the young rein-deer.
This fungus is often employed as a styptic for the stopping of blood. When intended for this use, the exterior hard substance is pared off, and the coat underneath is separated from the porous part, and well beaten with a hammer, until it becomes pliable. Thus prepared it is kept dry, in slices of convenient size, for use; and, although it is not so much esteemed in this country as it was some years ago, many of the continental surgeons have a very high opinion of its efficacy.
INDEX
TO THE
SECOND VOLUME.