] The texts: _qui Veneris ostium quaerunt_--"seek the
mouth of Venus."

This favorite superstition of the ancients leads many
writers, as might be expected, into fanciful
speculations. Humelberg, quoting Martial, says: _Veneram
mire stimulant, unde et salaces a Martiali vocantur._ 1.
XIII, Ep. 34:

_Cum sit anus conjunx, cum sint tibi mortua membra
Nil aliud, bulbis quam satur esse potes._

We fail to find this quotation from Varro in his works,
M. Teren. Varronis De Re Rustica, Lugduni, 1541, but we
read in Columella and Pliny that the buds or shoots of
reeds were called by some "bulbs," by others "eyes,"
and, remembering that these shoots make very desirable
vegetables when properly cooked, we feel inclined to
include these among the term "bulbs." Platina also adds
the squill or sea onion to this category. Nonnus, p. 84,
Diaeteticon, Antwerp, 1645, quotes Columella as saying:
_Jam Magaris veniant genitalia semina Bulbi._

[308] FRIED BULBS
_BULBOS FRICTOS_

ARE SERVED WITH WINE SAUCE [Oenogarum].

XV

MUSHROOMS OR MORELS [1]
_FUNGI FARNEI VEL BOLETI_

[309] MORELS [2]
_FUNGI FARNEI_

MORELS ARE COOKED QUICKLY IN GARUM AND PEPPER, TAKEN OUT, ALLOWED TO
DRIP; ALSO BROTH WITH CRUSHED PEPPER MAY BE USED [to cook the
mushrooms in].

[1] It is noteworthy that the term _spongiolus_ which
creates so much misunderstanding in Book II is not used
here in connection with mushrooms. Cf. {Rx} No. 115.

[2] "Ashtree-Mushrooms."

[310] FOR MORELS
_IN FUNGIS FARNEIS_

PEPPER, REDUCED WINE, VINEGAR AND OIL.

[311] ANOTHER WAY OF COOKING MORELS
_ALITER FUNGI FARNEI_

IN SALT WATER, WITH OIL, PURE WINE, AND SERVE WITH CHOPPED CORIANDER.

[312] MUSHROOMS
_BOLETOS FUNGOS_

FRESH MUSHROOMS ARE STEWED [1] IN REDUCED WINE WITH A BUNCH OF GREEN
CORIANDER, WHICH REMOVE BEFORE SERVING.

[1] Tor.

[313] ANOTHER STYLE OF MUSHROOMS
_BOLETOS ALITER_ [1]

MUSHROOM STEMS [or buds, very small mushrooms] ARE COOKED IN BROTH.
SERVE SPRINKLED WITH SALT.

[1] Tor. _Boletorum coliculi_; G.-V. _calyculos_.

[314] ANOTHER WAY OF COOKING MUSHROOMS
_BOLETOS ALITER_

SLICE THE MUSHROOM STEMS [1] [stew them as directed above] AND FINISH
BY COVERING THEM WITH EGGS [2] ADDING PEPPER, LOVAGE, A LITTLE HONEY,
BROTH AND OIL TO TASTE.

[1] _Thyrsos._

[2] G.-V. _in patellam no