THREE HUNDRED VARIETIES OF EDIBLE FUNGI

Chronicle (Levin), 11 January 1947, Page 8

THREE HUNDRED VARIETIES OF EDIBLE FUNGI

LONDON. Evcry autumn sinee 1940 — or it may liaye been 19:59, he is not qnite sure — l)r. J. Jianisbottom, Keeper of Botany it tlie Britisli 'M useuui. lias lectured to Ihe piiblie on "Kdibie Fungi." He lias starteil again. Twelve faithfut fungi enthusiasts wenl inlo the Nulural Hislorv Mnseiini (now closed to tlie public). There, in a litile green-curtained boardroom, stood tl.e blaclcboard, f lie niai,'ic lanlern, aml the long t.able witli its specimens of fimgi. Ten oi' tlie eiilhusiasts were women ! 4111 e sa.t . ncxl . U> me. She was siire llu kleTcfiirVs / IiiuL kt a rt e 1 iiF "tlie same ye:n jvar— and siie hail-uiavcr .lii'issei J'bffi?:' ' '*') . i' ' . > _«%

"I hope the old gairg will be' here,' she whisperecl. "We used to liaye t (V.ech, a Ibissian, and a Fole. J d hope tlitf diii-ter is in oue of his snbtli moods. " Tlie doetor was. He was explaininj the inebriating (pialities of tlie red topped " Fly Agaric nseil by th wliale. Jistiermen of Siberia to celelirat tlieir catdies. " A nsel'nl wav of aeliieving hilarit; al less th.'in 25s 9d ti boltle, " lie said A11 explostve tiller canie from Ih woman. 'J'lie I'ommon pnff-ball camo 011 tli screen. " V011 can cat it dipped in cg and fried,!' said a voice 011 the right. Sure eiiough: " It 'lias an excellen Havour if it is sliced, dipped 111 recor slituted egg, and fried, " - said th 1 doetor. l)r. Uamsl.ottom explained that tli , lectures had started originally to ad I variety to tlie war-time diet. He said " We had a lot of fun. The war i | over now, but'I think I might give ; few luore lectures." ("Splendid! ■ breatlied the woman.) A speetator canie away witli i pocketful of fungi. Oue variety wr ' used by our ancestors t>o sliarpen the 1 razors; anot-her is worn as a Imttonlio iiy girls in Paris"'; the third was ti | common ' earthball, " once served I 1 l)r. Jfamsbot toni as truffles. " | And you should know that: — j Onlv tliree knowa varieties of fun. ' are deadly. | The " Yellow-staining JFushrooni I causes indigestion 111 some — "but nev | in 111 an and yvife. " I Tliree liundred varieties make go j oating. § .