The Mushroom, Edible and Otherwise / Its Habitat and its Time of Growth

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

29086

Title

The Mushroom, Edible and Otherwise / Its Habitat and its Time of Growth

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

M. E. Hard's 1908 guide offers a practical, nature-focused approach to identifying edible and poisonous mushrooms. Written for intelligent beginners rather than specialists, it combines detailed descriptions with halftone illustrations to help readers explore fungi in their natural habitats, from Ohio woodlands to forest glades.

Summary up to 500 words

M. E. Hard's *The Mushroom, Edible and Otherwise* serves as both a practical field guide and an invitation to study the natural world. Written by a former school superintendent, the book draws upon years of personal observation and collaboration with botanists to describe common mushroom species found in the United States, particularly Ohio. Hard emphasizes that while color photographs are appealing, structural details are crucial for accurate identification; he urges readers to carefully examine specimens rather than relying solely on images. The work is structured into chapters covering various fungal groups, including Agarics, Polyporaceae, Coral Fungi, and Puff-Balls. Each entry typically includes the scientific name, common name, physical description, habitat, time of growth, and edibility status. A significant portion of the text is dedicated to an 'In Memoriam' for Dr. W. A. Kellerman of Ohio State University, who wrote the introduction and died shortly after. Dr. Kellerman praised the book's accessibility, noting it was designed for the 'mass of intelligent people' rather than just college students, aiming to remove the 'mist' from their eyes regarding fungi. Hard's motivation was sparked by Bohemian immigrants in Ohio gathering mushrooms for food, which aroused his desire to understand the scientific side of the subject. The book features a glossary, a history of mycologists, and recipes for cooking mushrooms. Hard acknowledges the scarcity of literature at the time and credits numerous colleagues for providing photographs and assistance. The work aims to help readers appreciate the beauty and utility of fungi in meadows, woods, and hillsides, offering descriptions of specific species like the Bracket Fomes and various Polyporus types found on logs and stumps. Ultimately, the book seeks to open the doors of Nature to pupils and the general public, assisting them in becoming familiar with the common mushrooms of their vicinity.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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2026-07-08 09:22 UTC

Categories

• Science