The golden dream of any mushroom picker is to return from "quiet hunting", proudly carrying a weighty basket full of mushrooms. Or even two. Yes, they say, and on the back you can attach, in the form of a backpack. In such a package, the gifts of nature will definitely survive until they reach the kitchen.
Scientists believe that the basket for mushrooms, like all similar utensils, is even older than a reasonable person. It is understandable: in order to feed, it was necessary to engage in hunting and gathering. And how to bring the collected in a cave tribe, especially if between it and a mycelium a decent distance? As the human hand mastered more and more complex kinds of work, the ancestors learned to weave things from natural materials: strong lianas, vines torn from the bark tree. For hundreds of years the basket has been woven for mushrooms in favor with everyone who goes to the forest for a "quiet hunt." And for the past centuries, its design has not changed. Just nothing better has been invented so far. Judge for yourself: a product made from a vine or willow rods combines both strength and lightness. Its dimensions are large, but this is understandable: any mushroom is a bulky thing. But not heavy, therefore the basket for mushrooms in strengthening does not require. In addition, the universal thing: it can put and berries, and vegetables, fruits, and home simple trifles, and a four-legged pet for a long journey. It will play its role, just standing on the shelf in the room, as an element of the interior.
Do not listen to those who mock the grandfather's methods, go for mushrooms with plastic buckets, plastic bags and backpacks! The basket for berries and mushrooms is so remarkable that, with its strength, it is freely permeable with air. So, collected (especially mushrooms) will retain its primary freshness longer. In addition, squeezed by the walls of the package or backpack, the mushrooms will quickly crumble and break. You will have nothing to be proud of, if you venture to demonstrate your prey to relatives or friends.
But you should not buy the first braid. To begin with it is worth trying on it. First, the handle of the basket should lie comfortably in the hand. Secondly, even if it is full, a basket for mushrooms should not interfere with walking. This is important, especially considering that before your car or highway you will have to carry it for several kilometers.
However, there is a rucksack version of the mushroom basket. Neither on the actual basket, nor on a backpack, such a braided shingle or birch bark is not like a body. In form, it more like bast shoes. The upper part of the body on the outside has a hole. Calculation of this design is simple: a hand with a cut mushroom easily reaches the hole, but if the mushroomer bends over the prey, nothing falls from the inside.
More recently, basket fishing in Russia has been developed quite well to meet high demand. In addition to baskets of willow twigs, the craftsmen wove a lot of birch bark purses and tunes, vines. Now demand, of course, decreased, but did not disappear at all. And not only because the wicker basket for mushrooms is an important element of the interior in the country style. It is still highly appreciated precisely as a household utensil, light, solid, ecological. No mushroomer should ever neglect it.
And the exceptional value of a woven basket for a person is reflected in myths, legends, fairy tales, where it is present. Even in the dream book. It is believed that if you see in a dream a large basket full of vigorous mushrooms - this is for money.