Picking
Mushrooms
Before you leave for the site, remember a few things; clothing,
container and energy. So respectively:
- Take clothing that keeps you warm and dry. Fever is not
a funny thing during your experience. If your clothing is
inadequate, a day out picking mushrooms can be a real pain.
- Take a container that breathes, preferably two to four
different containers. And one set for each picker. Take
lots of containers with you, especially if you are unsure
or have not found the species - it is easy to put each sort
into each container. A basket with a few paper cups or tins
is just fine. Paper and cloth bags will do fine, but be
wary of crushing the mushrooms during transport.
- Energy. Mushroom hunting can be really tiresome at times.
Take your happiness and food rations with you - you'll probably
need both.
Once you have located the site keep it clean. If
it is a cowfield, don't leave any gates open or either the
owner of the field or the bull of the herd will get you. Try
to just do your thing and then get out of there. Don't scream
and shout. I wouldn't recommend telling about a site to anyone
- it instantaneously creates an "anonymous mmp-site" - and
suddenly everyone is there, sooner or later including the
cops too.
OK, run around the field... do you find any mushrooms?
If none found, you are not looking hard enough. No matter
where you go in the fall, there's some sort of mushroom
there. You'd be surprised at how well the things can hide
themselves. Found - what is it? Whether you identify it
or not, put each species into different container - if in
doubt - different container or throw it away. There are
always two phases in identifying - when picking and when
cleaning (or should be). Always check carefully - saves
you lot of trouble.
Here's what the Audubon Society's "Field Guide to North
American Mushrooms" has to say on the issue:
"Collect mushrooms in a flat-bottomed basket. Take
along a roll of wax paper and wrap each species you find;
do not use plastic wrap since it hastens decay. This will
keep species separate and fresh until you return home. A pocket
knife or trowel is useful in extracting mushrooms from the
ground; be very careful not to disturb the underground root
system more than necessary. Bring note cards with you and
jot down pertinent field data. In particular, note the habitat
of the mushroom, including what type of tree it is growing
on or near; whether it is growing singly, scattered, in groups,
or in clusters; any distinctive odor or taste; the color of
the cap, stalk, gills, pores, or teeth, and latex, which may
change after the mushroom has been picked. Note any color
changes when it is bruised. You can also use the note cards
to set up spore prints in the field; they will often be ready
by the time you return home. If you are absolutely certain
of the identification of an edible species, you can clean
it in the field. Until you are experienced, however, it is
best to take the mushroom home intact; the stalk base is often
a crucial identification feature, and cleaning can remove
diagnostic characteristics. The more characteristics you can
observe, the better chance you have of identifying the mushroom.
It helps to have fresh mushrooms rather than old ones, and
to collect many specimens of one kind at various stages of
growth." |