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September 21, 1995 - Where Have All the Mushrooms Gone?10A The Suffolk Times a September 21 1995 Where Have All the Mushrooms Gone? By Paul Stoutenburgh In between the showers last Thursday a group of mushroom enthusiasts gathered at Moores Woods in Greenport to search out the little -known fungi that tan- talize the imagination and stir the appetite of the con- noisseur. We had chosen Moores Woods because of its great expanse of woodlands. The main attraction was Dr. Sam Ristich, a young 80- year -old mycologist and botanist from Yarmouth, Maine, who led our group with the able assistance of Lance Biechele, a one -time res- ident of Southold now living in Focus o Maryland. Lance has written Nature many papers on the various aspects of the fungi family and knows the Moores Woods area well from his years of youthful tramping through its trails. Our other expert was Fran Zelinski, a self- taught mushroom collector whose experience goes back to childhood days when her mother took her to gather mushrooms for the dinner table. As far as I'm con- cerned, she's our "local talent" here on the North Fork. Mushrooms need three important ingredients to grow: the right temperature, the correct organic matter to feed upon and moisture. We had the first two ele- ments, but the moisture was sadly lacking. To make sure our mushroom - hunting foray would not be a com- plete disaster because of the dryness, Barbara and 1, with baskets in hand, went out early Thursday morning and searched the countryside for the now- elusive fungi. Good Hunting Luck was on our side, for we found the bright yel- low- orange sulphur mushrooms growing on an old oak in our back woods. Then we went to the nearby irrigat- ed golf course and were able to find the well -known pasture mushroom that is so good to eat. We also found a huge mushroom that later even stumped the experts. On we rode, adding oyster mushrooms, which were growing on a dead tree stump. These would bring "oohs and ahs" from the group for they are another excellent edible mushroom. Down in Bayview we found a woodchip pile with a number of wine caps. Sam told us this was the only place you'd find this mushroom growing. At another location we found an interesting fungus in the shape of long, black, pencil -like fingers called dead man's fin- gers. Even the name implies it's not good to eat. With my driving and Barbara's sharp eyes we added others to our collection that would be identified when every- one gathered. To start our mushroom foray Sam gave us all a short course in mushroom identification that whetted our appetites for the walk ahead. He explained the good and the bad side of mushroom collecting, warning everyone to be doubly sure of any mushroom they intended to eat. He repeated that over and over, stating that some mushrooms are a mortician's delight! He told us what to look for, what color it was, where it grew, its size and shape, if it had gills or not. Even the smell and taste came into the identifica- tion of a specimen. Did it have a bulb at REPAIR SHOP • Small Engine, Lawnmower and Tractor Repair • Blades Sharpened • Overhauls, Tune -Ups or "just about any dam ole thing " Pickup and Delivery Stew Dewar North Side of Rt. 25 and Oaklawn Ave., Southold 765 -5384 Photo by Paul Stoutenburgh SHAGGY- MANE —Had the weather been more favorable and given us more rain before our mushroom walk, we might have seen this good - looking gourmet's delight along the wayside. the base, or a veil, or a ring around its stem? Was it sticky? All these would help key in the mushroom at hand. He even said that in some mushrooms, like the good honey mushroom, you could confuse it with the bad jack -o- lantern and the only true way to determine whether it would be edible or not would be to make a spore print on paper and if the spores were white it would be good eating. All through these lively discussions Sam kept us chuckling with his quick and witty comments. He truly put us in a good frame of mind as we headed into Moores Woods, all eyes looking for anything that faint- ly resembled a mushroom. A few dried ones showed up but the pickings were slim. To augment our walk our "fun guy" did some botanizing, telling us about the trees, shrubs and plants along the pathway. We found out how to tell the differ- ..69. Umaa.4 namwL 75 Years Ago Sept. 17, 1920 Island Juice: For several months property owners have been active in trying to secure an electric lighting sys- tem on Shelter Island. A committee has now been orga- nized and is negotiating with the Long Island Lighting Company to supply a current from their subsidiary plant at Sag Harbor. Produce Express: The American Railway Express Company has put on an extra train, which leaves Greenport every afternoon at two o'clock. This train carries only mar- ket produce and has been put on so that produce shipped to the New York markets will reach there in good season. Farmers are advised to get their produce at the depot earlier than heretofore, so that it can be shipped on this train. 50 Years Ago Sept. 21, 1945 Memorial Committee Formed: Colonel Walter J. Burns was appointed to lead the War Memorial Commit- tee of the Greenport Chamber of Commerce at a meeting held last Monday evening at the Village Hall. One plan under consideration is the establishment of a historical museum, one room of which would be devoted to the mem- ory of the men and women who served in World War II, ence between white oak and swamp white oak by the swamp's long- stemmed acorns. Like a mother hen with her chicks he moved along the pathway stopping here and there to reveal some bit of wisdom to his eager fol- lowers. We got to know one another and found that Eric Lamont and his wife, Mary Laura, were with us. Eric is president of the Long Island Botanical Society and added much information about the plants we encountered. It was nice to have them and other knowl- edgeable people with us. An Unsung Treasure As the day drew on we all agreed the spirit of mush- room collecting was there but the fungi were missing. Everyone remarked what a wonderful spot Moores Woods is and wondered why it is not kept up as it was years ago when trails and signs directed you through this prestigious woodland. Perhaps this enthusiasm will spur the village and town to utilize the area so that more people can become acquainted with its treasures. There should be a restriction on any motorized vehicles in the `We all woods. Bicycles, yes, for the trails would make a great diver- sion agreed from the roadsides for bik- g ers. With a little work this area spirit of could be a showplace. It was Roy Latham's outdoor laborato- mushroom ry. This great naturalist from Orient did much of his field collecting work in these woodlands. was there Slowly the afternoon ended. Some stayed longer, others but the slipped away early, but many fun i were returned that evening to the g Indian Museum in Southold to missing ' see Sam's beautiful slide pro- gram. We listened attentively as this master of delivery spoke about the various attribut- es of the mushrooms that flashed before us on the screen. After the slide show a question- and - answer period brought out questions that each seemed to have tucked away for just this occasion. We had a truly wonderful day and all went away with a better understanding of the somewhat mysterious growths we call mushrooms. They, and their relatives, are what make decay possible, for their energy comes not from the sun but from live or dead organic matter. Without decay we would be buried in the debris of dead limbs, leaves, etc., for there would be no break- down of material. The world of mycology is a fasci- nating one; to some their only interest is the edible mushroom, but to most the whole realm of fungi is a never - ending wonder of shape and form and beauty. P.S. — Should anyone become sick from mush- rooms, you should go to your nearest poison center without delay. including a display of trophies, souvenirs and commemora- tive objects. The historic old Young house on the North Road was mentioned as a possible location. The instant suc- cess of the new Oysterponds museum in Orient and the continuing favorable accomplishments of the other Suffolk museums such as those in East Hampton and Sag Harbor were cited as evidence of the great public interest and attractiveness of such ventures. 25 Years Ago Sept. 18, 1970 Lighthouse Razing Stayed: "We are delaying action on demolition of the Orient Point Lighthouse," said Coast Guard Capt. Robert Rea, chief of the aids in naviga- tion branch of the Third Coast Guard District this week. The Suffolk Times reported two weeks ago that the old lighthouse, familiarly guarding Plum Gut since the 1890s, was scheduled for destruction "at the end of the current boating season." "Whenever there is any interest in the preservation of a historical structure we're delighted to delay and provide time for an organization or group to consider taking it over," said Capt. Rea. "We'll take a good, close look at this," he said, "but it will take a group who is concerned with its preservation to come up with a plan for saving it."