PREFACE

TO THE SECOND EDITION.

MY lamented friend Dr. Badham having died since the first publication of this work, my advice was asked upon the subject of the preparation of a new edition. It was wished that the text of the work should be altered as little as possible, and that the price of the book should be materially lessened. The latter object could not be effected without reducing the number of the Plates, but it appeared to me that some plates relating to details of structure might very well be omitted, as well as the figures of a few Italian species which, although interesting in themselves, are quite unnecessary in a book on British Esculent Fungi. With the exception of the omission of the description of these latter species, and the addition of the description of two other species hereafter referred to, the alterations in the text are too trifling to require notice. With regard to the Figures in this edition, most of them are those of the former plates, somewhat reduced; a few have been taken from the plates of Mr. Berkeley's 'Outlines of British Fungology', and a few from original and other sources.

By a re-arrangement of the whole, the reduction in the number of the Plates has been effected, and, at the same time, figures of all the Fungi represented in the first edition have been given, as well as of two other species not there noticed. I should observe, however, that by a mistake of the artist an extra figure of the Horse Mushroom has been inserted in Plate IV. instead of one of the Common Mushroom.

The two species above alluded to which were not figured in the first edition, are Tuber aestivum and Helvella esculenta. The former must have been inadvertently omitted by Dr. Badham, as it has long been known as abundant in certain parts of England. Helvella esculenta, although alluded to by Dr. Badham, was not at that time known to be a British species. It has since been observed near Weybridge in Surrey, where it occurs almost every spring. The plant figured in PI. XV. fig. 6 of the first edition under the name of Lycoperdon plumbeum, is not that species, but Lycoperdon pyriforme; it will be found at PI. VIII. fig. 5. Dr. Badham states that all puffballs are esculent, but, judging from the smell of Lycoperdon pyriforme, I should much doubt whether it would make an agreeable dish. Lycoperdon plumbeum is now better known as Bovista plumbea, and Lycoperdon Bovista as Lycoperdon giganteum.

There is some confusion about the synonymy of the plants described by Dr. Badham as Agaricus prunulus and Ag. exquisitus. It is unnecessary to discuss the matter here, and I have thought it not desirable under the circumstances to alter Dr. Badham's nomenclature. They appear to be described in Mr. Berkeley's work as Ag. gambosus, Fr., and Ag. arvensis, Schæff.

Dr. Badham's observations on the spores of Fungi must be read in connection with the note added by him at the conclusion of the work, and to those who are interested in that part of the subject I should recommend the perusal of the seventh chapter of Mr. Berkeley's 'Outlines of British Fungology,' and Tulasne's recent work, 'Selecta Fungorum Carpologia.'

Mr. Cooke, in his 'Plain and Easy Account of British Fungi,' recently published, mentions some species as esculent which are not noticed in this work. I have however no experience of their qualities, and must refer the reader to Mr. Cooke's book for further information. He mentions Mr. Berkeley as an authority for considering Agaricus rubescens as suspicious; but, from long experience, I can vouch for its being not only wholesome, but, as Dr. Badham says, "a very delicate fungus." F. C.

PREFACE

TO THE FIRST EDITION.

TO THE RIGHT REVEREND

THE LORD BISHOP OF NORWICH.

MY LORD,

I had two reasons for desiring that this humble performance should appear under the sanction of your Lordship's name. Nothing could he more favourable to a Treatise on any department of Natural History, than the approval of one who has been so eminently successful in his cultivation of the same field.

But it is with much greater confidence that I dedicate a work, whose chief object it is to furnish the labouring classes with wholesome nourishment and profitable occupation, to a high functionary of that kingdom, which is distinguished from all others by recognizing the claims and furthering the interests of the poor.

I have the honour to be, my Lord,
With great respect, your Lordship's
Obliged and humble Servant,
C. D. BADHAM.

CONTENTS.

Page
INTRODUCTORY NOTICE xiii
ETYMOLOGIES 1
THE RANGE OF FUNGUS GROWTHS 7
OF THEIR GENERAL FORMS, COLOURS AND TEXTURES 10
ODOURS AND TASTES 13
EXPANSIVE POWER OF GROWTH 14
REPRODUCTIVE POWERS 16
MOTION 16
PHOSPHORESCENCE 18
DIMENSIONS 18
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION 20
USES 21
MEDICAL USES. 25
FUNGUSES CONSIDERED AS AN ARTICLE OF DIET 27
MODES OF DISTINGUISHING 40
CONDITIONS NECESSARY TO THEIR PRODUCTION 47
FAIRY RINGS 52
ON THE GROWTH OF FUNGUSES 53
ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SPORES, OR QUASI-SEEDS [ref.1] 58
OF THE ANNULUS, THE VELUM, AND THE VOLVA 66
OF THE STALK, AND OF THE PILEUS 68
OF THE GILLS, TUBES, PLAITS, AND SPINES 69
METHODICAL DISTRIBUTION OF BRITISH ESCULENT FUNGUSES 72
DESCRIPTION OF SPECIES :-
Agaricus acris minor 120
Agaricus alutaceus 117
Agaricus atramentarius 111
Agaricus campestris 94
Agaricus castaneus 143
Agaricus comatus 112
Agaricus deliciosus 102
Agaricus Dryophilus 107
Agaricus emetlcus 118
Agaricus exquisitus 100
Agaricus fusipes 141
Agaricus heterophyllus 113
Agaricus melleus 139
Agaricus nebularis 108
Agaricus Orcella 129
Agaricus oreades 106
Agaricus ostreatus 121
Agaricus personatus 105
Agaricus piperatus 141
Agaricus procerus 88
Agaricus prunulus 85
Agaricus ruber 115
Agaricus rubescens 123
Agaricus sanguineus 120
Agaricus semiglobatus 108
Agaricus ulmarius 140
Agaricus vaginatus 142
Agaricus violaceus 143
Agaricus virescens 116
Agaricus virgineus 145
Boletus edulis 90
Boletus luridus 104
Boletus scaber 103
Cantharellus cibarius 110
Clavaria coralloides 135
Fistulina hepatica 127
Helvella crispa 130
Helvella lacunosa 131
Helvella esculenta 131
Hydnum, repandum 126
Lycoperdon Bovista 138
Lycoperdon plumbeum 136
Morchella esculenta 123
Morchella semilibera 124
Peziza acetabulum 133
Polyporus frondosus 133
Tuber aestivum 145
Verpa digitaliformis 132
CONCLUSION 146.

DESCRIPTION OF PLATES.

PLATE I.

Fig. 1. Agaricus prunulus.
Fig. 2. Agaricus personatus.

PLATE II.

Agaricus procerus.

PLATE III.

Fig. 1, 2. Boletus edulis.
Fig. 3, 4. Agaricus heterophyllus.

PLATE IV.

Fig. 1. Polyporus frondosus.
Fig. 2. Agaricus nebularis.
Fig. 3,4,5. Agaricus exquisitus.

PLATE V.

Fig. 1. Helvella lacunosa.
Fig. 2. Clavaria amethystina.
Fig. 3. Clavaria coralloides.
Fig. 4, Agaricus deliciosus.
Fig. 5. Clavaria cinerea.
Fig. 6. Clavaria rugosa.

PLATE VI.

Fig. 1, 2. Boletus scaber.
Fig. 3, 4, 5. Boletus luridus.

PLATE VII.

Fig. 1, 2, 3. Agaricus comatus.
Fig. 4. Agaricus oreades.
Fig. 6. Agaricus Dryophilus.

PLATE VIII.

Fig. 1. Cantharellus cibarius.
Fig. 2. Tuber aestivum.
Fig. 3, 4. Hydnum repandum.
Fig. 5. Lycoperdon pyriforme.

PLATE IX.

Fig. 1, 2. Agaricus atramentarius.
Fig. 3. Agaricus melleus.

PLATE X.

Agaricus ostreatus.

PLATE XI.

Fig. 1, 2. Agaricus Orcella.
Fig. 3, 4, 5. Agaricus rubescens.

PLATE XII.

Fig. 1, 2. Fistulina hepatica.
Fig. 3,4,6. Helvella esculenta.
Fig. 6. Morchella esculenta.