Page:Coloured Figures of English Fungi or Mushrooms.djvu/689

 TAB. CCCCVIII.

CONTAINS figures of other varieties of Ag. virosus, having the lamellæ or gills paler than usual. No. 1. has the annulus or ruffle large. No. 2. with a thick stem and the annulus darker on the side towards the gills, pileus with an umbo or rising in the middle. No. 3. a somewhat bulbous long-rooted variety: I have seen the root with fibres an inch long. No. 4. a flat-topped variety. No. 5. with the pileus incurved to the large annulus.; No. 6. shrivelling as they do in slow drying, though in quick drying they sometimes crack or turn up. I gathered this sort in Kensington Gardens, in June 1795, and August, 1796; and I observed some boys gathering them for Champignons or Ag. orcades, but advised them to throw them away, lest they should eat them. In the Green Park, about the same time, a nursery-maid, seeing me a little curious, asked me about some of those figured in this plate. I gave her, and two little ones that were with her, the same advice; she was, however, confident in her own opinion, that they Avere good to eat; but I had the satisfaction to see her throw them away when at a distance from me. TAB. CCCCIX AND CCCCX.

AFTER treating of the Fungi poisonous to the human constitution, it may not be improper to say something of those that affect vegetables and our food. This present has been long a troublesome parasite in many places, and has been the cause of much loss as to the trees which it attacks, as well as in expensive and useless attempts to get rid of it. I think, however, its very nature, like the dry rot, bespeaks an easy cure, but easy cures do not always gain the confidence due to them. I did not dare to give an easy receipt for the cure of the dry-rot, till it was proved to be a good one by Lord