[169] “Dans le département des landes on sème l’Agaricus Palomet. Pour cela on se contente d’arroser la terre d’un bosquet planté en chênes avec de l’eau dans laquelle on a fait bouillir une grande quantité de ces champignons; la culture n’exige d’autres soins que d’éloigner de ces lieux les chevaux, les pores et les bêtes à cornes, qui sont très-friandes de ces plantes; ce moyen réussit toujours, mais nous laissons aux physiciens à nous expliquer pourquoi l’ébullition n’a pas fait mourir les germes.”—_Thore._ [170] The reader must not conclude from this that soil, any more than age, will account for such differences; there is a _variety_ of _Ag. alutaceus_, described by Vittadini, which he says is “endowed with a very caustic taste, smelling of pepper, and to be avoided.” The kind _generally_ found in England is probably the same as this, which Bulliard has described under the name of _Ag. alutaceus acris_. [171] “Sospettando ragionevolmente dietro le esperienze del Krapf e del Roques che questo fungo potesse esser nocivo all’ uomo e non agli animali, ho voluto anch’io sperimentarlo su di me stesso.”—_Vitt._ [172] I lately found a _single_ specimen of it, which Vittadini says is rare. [173] On the Poplar and Willow, according to Vittadini; Apple and Laburnum, on the authority of Berkeley; Elm and Ash, on my own. [174] In some specimens the gills are _all_ solitary. [175] Vitt. [176] It is probable that the varieties here referred to belonged to _Ag. euosmus_, B. Care must be taken to distinguish between the two, as _Ag. euosmus_ is an unsafe species.—ED. [177] Vitt. [178] A countryman, last spring (1847), stumbled upon a large quantity in the neighbourhood of Chiselhurst, Kent, and being struck with their appearance gathered some, and took them to a medical man of the place, who, not recognizing the plant, suffered the whole to perish! He has since been made aware of his mistake. [179] It is a common fraud in the Italian market for the salesmen to soak them in water; which increases their weight, but spoils their flavour. [180] In the Roman market the Morell is held in little esteem, and sells for 4_d._ or 5_d._ per lb. Three varieties of the _esculenta_ are brought in by the “Asparagarii,” _i. e._ the peasants who gather the _wild_ Asparagus on the hills; viz. the _M. rotunda_, which is almost globose, _M. vulgaris_, and _M. fulva_, which is of a tawny colour. [181] Though the _F. hepatica_ grows both upon oak and chestnut trees, this difference in its origin never perceptibly affects the plant, which is equally good, whether it be gathered from one or from the other. [182] Whence the vernacular names, “Orgella,” “Orgelle,” and “Oreille.” [183] Most authors compare this odour to that of fresh meal, but as several friends think with me that the above comparison is more accurate, I have ventured to substitute it.