PREFACE. 



-•O*- 



The design of this work is to provide the English 



student with the means of acquiring a knowledge of the 



Discomycetes of Britain. The fifth volume of " English 



[0 Flora/' Berkeley's " Outlines," and Cooke's « Handbook," 



|^ each well served this purpose in its time, and I indulge 



5* the hope that the present work may be equally useful. 



^j No trouble has been spared in verifying and extend- 



. ing microscopic observations of the morphology, for in 



no instance where an authentic specimen was accessible 



has the opportunity of examining it been neglected. 



The readiness with which the Rev. M. J. Berkeley, my 



^ lamented friend the late Mr. C. E. Broome, and Dr. M. C. 



*> Cooke have entrusted to me some of their unique 



tf specimens, calls for my grateful acknowledgment ; as 



-^ d <es the kindness of the Kew and British Museum 

 . . 



. authorities, in allowing me at all times ready access to 



their important herbaria 



When Dr. M. C. Cooke became aware of my intention 



^Jto undertake this work, he not only generously handed 



clover to me the whole of his valuable manuscript notes, 



>- 



NE 



BOTANIC J 

 GARDEN 



