COLLECTING AND PRESERVING
    -------------------------

    The main "Flush" of psycho-active mushrooms occurs between early 
  September and late November but they can be found as early as the first 
  week in August. A preliminary expidition in mid-August can be very useful
  to determine where large areas of mushrooms might grow later in the season.

    When you go on a hunt for magic mushrooms it's worth remebering that you
  are more likely to find active specimens of Psilocybe semilanceata than 
  active mushrooms of any other species. As P.coprophila, Pan.campanulatus 
  and Pana.foenisecii grow in much the same conditions as P.sem., it's worth
  heading for a rich grassy area first. In cities, football pitches, lawns in
  parks and formal gardens are very likely spots. (Also try Golf Courses, ED.)
  They are well manured and usually kept well watered throughout the summer,
  this keeps the soil rich and moist, giving the mycelium more of a chance
  to grow throughout the summer. Places which retain moisture naturally 
  (like Moors, ED.) are also good locations; fields near rivers or lakes, low
  ground etc., mushrooms also favour areas where the ground is warm, so look
  for an area where sunlight will fall for most of the day.

    If, after wandering around at the would-be picking site, no areas of
  fungi are noticeable, a more detailed search is called for. The Psilocybes
  are quite small and to see to find them your eyes will need to be at the
  most 4 feet from the ground. Search quite a large patch to start with,
  maybee 40 ft. square. If you dont find anything cover another similarly 
  sized area. If still dont find anything look closer. If still have no joy,
  try searching about 60-70 yards away from where you started. Still no 
  luck ? Get down closer, seperate long grass with your fingers and look 
  underneath. Dont be too discouraged if you dont find what your looking for,
  it may be too early in the season, or not a particularly good site. Try
  a different site, or a different day, or both.

    When you do find a mushroom don't wander away from that area as there 
  could be others, close by, growing of the same mycelium network. Check it's
  visible characteristics against those given. If they all tally you have a 
  Psilocybe. One marked characteristic of psilocybes is that the mycelium,
  where it joins the stem, often has a blue-green tinge. This bluing also
  occurs within 10-15 minutes if scratch or bruise the mushroom's flesh.

    Pick them by twisting the stem sharply just above the point where it 
  reaches the ground, or nip the stem with your fingernails. If you pull them
  up by the roots this will damage the surrounding mycelium and slow down 
  the production of further fruiting bodies. Don't pick all the little ones as
  they'll be big ones tomorrow.

    It's best to be sure what you're eating before you consume any wild
  mushrooms. When you get home take a spoe print ( see cultivation ). If it's
  not purple/black-black-purple/brown you have a different genus that may be
  poisonous.

    When harvested the mushrooms can either be eaten fresh, when they have a
  very pleasant mild flavour (That's a matter of opinion. ED.), cooked with
  food, served as tea or dried for later use (see legal position). P.sem 
  losses 20-40% of its potency on drying. P.cop loses up to 80%

    Traditionally mushrooms are collected in shallow baskets made of wooden
  slats but a seed tray, a shallow cardboard box or a frisbee do just as well.
  If not too wet and fragile they can be transported in an unsealed plastic
  bag, otherwise move them in the collecting tray. Take care not to bruise 
  the flesh as you handle them and do not overfill your tray or bag as those
  at the bottom will get squashed by the weight of those above.

    When looking for small woodland species, like P.montana or H.cyanescens
  turn over fallen leaves, twigs and othe debris, close to the base of trees
  and look underneath. A.muscaria sticks out like a sore thumb, but A.panth-
  erina is much better disguised. Both of these are often found in the birch
  and hazel hedges which are used to fence off country roads bordered by
  ditches.

    Air and oven drying both work well, the potency remaining slightly greater
  when air dried. To air dry mushrooms lay them out on sheets of newspaper so
  that they are not touching one another. Alternatively, if you don't have 
  very much space, they can be strung together like beads by sewing them 
  through the point of the cap with a needle and thread, making sure to leave
  a small gap between each to prevent them sticking to one another. Leave them
  in a warm dry place until they are dry. This drying will take between 6-48
  hours depending on your drying conditions.

  DO NOT DISCARD THE STEMS AS THEY ARE EQUALLY POTENT

    When the mushrooms are completely dry, hard and no longer spongy to the
  touch, they can be stored in sealed plastic bags. Mark on each bag the 
  number it contains as the mushrooms are very crumbly in the dried state.

    To oven dry mushrooms spread them out on baking trays and place them in
  a low oven (below 150 degrees F) until dry. If you put wet mushrooms 
  straight into the oven they tend to stick to the trays. Although it takes
  longer, I find air drying more satisfactory.

  NEVER KEEP UNDRIED MUSHROOMS IN A PLASTIC BAG FOR TOO LONG AS THEY TURN
  INTO A STICKY MESS !