57 



(especially in species of Rtissula) branch one or more times before 

 reaching the edge of the pileus. When, therefore, a longitudinal 

 section of one of these fungi is made, care should be taken to have 

 only the full-length gills appear; and if, in the first section, one or 

 two short gills stand in front of them, these should be cut away un- 

 til the longer ones are reached. After making the section, which 

 should be as thin as possible, it is fastened to the gelatine-paper with 

 the long gills upward. It should^be remarked that the thinner the 

 section is made the easier it dries and the better the preparation 

 keeps. Sections of species of Boletus are easily made because the 

 cutting is done in the direction of the tubes. The same is the case 

 with species oi Hydnum, 



Whenever it is possible, section-specimens of each species should 

 be prepared to show the plant in its various stages of development. 

 As soon as the fungus has arisen from its mycelium and just shows 

 the arrangement of stipe, pileus, lamellae, or pores, or spines, as the 

 case may be, a section of it should be made at this stage. This will 

 show whether the species when young is enveloped in a universal 

 veil, which, subsequently rupturing, remains as a volva at the base, 

 a ring on the stipe and as floccose patches on the pileus (as in 

 Agaricus muscarius. A, ruhescens^ etc.), or whether the margin of the 

 pileus is involute (as in Collybia) or straight (as in Mycena)^ etc. 

 When the stipe has still further developed, and the ring (when 

 present) has separated from the pileus, another section should be 

 made; and the same should be done with species provided with a 

 veil, at the stage when the latter still connects the edge of the pileus 

 with the stipe. With fungi having a ring of a delicate texture 

 {A??ianita^ for example), great care and considerable skill are re- 

 quisite in making the section, to avoid tearing the ring while cutting 

 through it lengthwise. If the ring is movable (as in Agaricus 

 procerus) it may be cut through at some one point and removed, to be 

 afterwards placed on the preparation which gives a profile view of 

 the fungus. The same care should be exercised in dividing those 

 species which, like Agaricus muscarius^ A. pJialloides^ A, Mappa and 

 A, vaginafus^ are provided with a volva at the base, in order that the 

 section may show to what extent the bulbous portion and its margin 

 are adherent to the stipe. * 



If it is a peculiarity of any species to vary greatly in size and 

 shape, sections should be made of each of the different forms. When, 

 as frequently happens in such species as Hydnum imbricatum^ several 

 fungi grow so closely together that their stipes and caps coalesce, 

 sections should also be taken through two or more of the individuals 

 thus joined together. Sections and other preparations of the genus 

 Coprinus can be made from young specimens only, because of the 

 peculiarity that these fungi have of dissolving at maturity into an 

 mky fluid. 



It will be found that the adherence of the sections to the gelatine- 

 paper varies greatly according to the nature of the fleshy substance 

 of the plant. Such fungi as Boletus^ Amanita and Ilygrophorus, 

 whose flesh is of a soft, moist nature, adhere very quickly and read- 

 ily. If the stipe of a species be of a cartilaginous, dry nature and the 



