SUGGESTIONS. ^ 81 



CHAPTER XIII. 



SUGGESTIONS. 



IF, in offering a few practical suggestions, we 

 either repeat ourselves, or communicate 

 common-place hints, those who may know already- 

 all we shall essay to tell them will please to pardon 

 and pass on. 



All the information essential under this head 

 relates to collecting, examining, and preserving 

 microscopic fungi. 



Collecting does not differ, except in the objects 

 themselves, from any other botanical collecting. 

 Those who attempt it must be prepared to sacrifice 

 their kid gloves and patent-leather boots, to put on 

 waterproofs and perseverance, and come home 

 sometimes disappointed. The requisites for good 

 work are but few, and easily supplied. A strong 

 knife, a pocket lens, and a box or leather bag, 

 will be all that is really essential. But where shall 

 we go — and when ? Hedge-banks, the sides of 

 ditches, borders of woods, anywhere, if the plants 

 are to be found on which the fungi are parasitic. 

 We flatter ourselves on being rather successful in 

 collecting, and our favourite localities have always 

 been the dampest places in woods, railway-banks, 

 and waste places. It is a great mistake to endea- 



