e within
twenty-four hours, another bit may be chewed, this time swallowing a
small portion of the juice. Should no irritation be experienced after
another period of waiting, a still larger piece may be tried. I always
sample a new plant carefully, and thus am often able to establish the
fact of its edibility before being able to locate it in its proper
species. This fall I found for the first time Tricholoma columbetta; it
was some time after I had proven it an edible mushroom before I had
settled upon its name. A better way, perhaps, is to cook them and feed
them to your cat and watch the result.

Another way is to have a friend who knows the plants go with you, and
thus you learn under a teacher as a pupil learns in school. This is the
quickest way to gain a knowledge of plants of any kind, but it is
difficult to find a competent teacher.

Still another way, and one that is open to all, is to gain a knowledge
of a few species and through their description become familiar with the
terms used in describing a mushroom; this done, the way is open, if you
have a book containing illustrations and descriptions of the most common
plants. Do not be in a hurry to get the names of all the plants, and do
not make use of any about which you are not absolutely sure. In
gathering mushrooms to eat, do not put into your basket with those you
intend to eat a single mushroom of whose edible qualities you have any
doubt. If you have the least doubt about it, discard it, or put it in
another basket.

There are no fixed rules by which you can tell a poisonous from an
edible mushroom. I found a friend of mine eating Lepiota naucina, not
even knowing to what genus it belonged, simply because she could peel
it. I told her that the most deadly mushroom can be peeled just as
readily. Nor is there anything more valuable in the silver spoon test in
which Mr. Gibson's old lady put so much confidence. Some say, do not eat
any that have an acrid taste; many are edible whose taste is quite
acrid. Others say, do not eat any whose juice or milk is white, but this
would discard a number of Lactarii that are quite good. There is nothing
in the white gills and hollow stem theory. It is true that the Amanita
has both, but it must be known by other characteristics. Again we are
told to avoid such as have a viscid cap, or those that change color
quickly; this is too sweeping a condemnation for it would cut out
several very good species. I think I may saf