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

"The Mushroom, Edible and Otherwise" by Miron Elisha Hard is a guide that explores the world of mushrooms, made for anyone from beginners to experts interested in finding and learning about fungi. It highlights the critical skill of telling safe mushrooms apart from dangerous ones, hoping to deepen the reader's connection with the natural world. The author begins by recounting his own path into mushroom studies, noting how watching local kids hunt for them and wanting to know more for himself sparked that interest. He describes what makes studying mushrooms important, providing different ways to identify them and explaining the need for careful watching and caution when foraging. The beginning of the book also covers key ideas in mycology, like the qualities of mushrooms compared to toadstools, how to tell them apart, and basic rules for identifying edible types. This introduction prepares the reader for the detailed chapters that are ahead, offering tools for those interested in the captivating field of mushroom science.