STUDIES OF AMERICAN FUNGI. 



they are placed where there is a draft of air. Some dry them in the 

 sun. But often the sun is not shining, and the weather may be 

 rainy or the air very humid, when it is impossible to dry the specimens 

 properly except by artificial heat. The latter method is better for 

 the larger specimens at all times. During the autumn when radia- 

 tors are heated the fungi dry well when placed on or over them. 

 One of the best places which I have utilized is the brick work around 

 a boiler connected with a mountain hotel. Two other methods are, 

 however, capable of wider application. 



is t. A tin oven about 2x2 feet, and two or several feet high, 

 with one side hinged as a door, and with several movable shelves of 

 perforated tin, or of wire netting ; a vent at the top, and perforations 

 around the sides at the bottom to admit air. The object being to 

 provide for a constant current of air from below upwards between 

 the specimens. This may be heated, if not too large, with a lamp, 

 though an oil stove or gas jet or heater is better. The specimens 

 are placed on the shelves with the accompanying notes or numbers. 

 The height of this box can be extended where the number of 

 specimens is great. 



2d. A very successful method which 1 employed at a summer 

 resort at Blowing Rock, N. C., in the mountains of North Carolina, 

 during September, 1899, was as follows : An old cook stove was set 

 up in an unoccupied cottage, with two wire screens from 3x4 feet, 

 one above the other, the lower one about one foot above the top of 

 the stove. Large numbers can be dried on these frames. Care of 

 course must be taken that the plants are not burned. In all cases 

 the plants must be so placed that air will circulate under and around 

 them, otherwise they are apt to blacken. 



When the plants are dry they are very brittle and must be 

 handled carefully. When removed from the drier many kinds soon 

 absorb enough moisture to become pliant so that they are not easily 

 broken. Others remain brittle. They may be put away in small 

 boxes ; or pressed out nearly flat, not so as to crush the gills, , and then 

 put in paper packets. The plants which do not absorb sufficient 

 moisture from the air, so that they are pliant enough to press, can be 

 placed in small boxes or on paper in a large box with peat moss in 

 the bottom, and the box then closed tightly until they absorb enough 

 moisture to become flexible. The plants must not get wet, and they 

 should be examined every half hour or so, for some become limp 

 much sooner than others. If the plants get too moist the gills crush 

 together when pressed, and otherwise they do not make such good 

 specimens. When the specimens are dried and placed in the herba- 



