The American Botanist 



VOL. XII. 



JOLIET, ILL., JUNE, 1907. 



No. 5 



CD 



WHY AND HOW TO BEGIN STUDY OF FUNGI. 



BY STAFFORD C. EDWARDS. 



NEARLY every one enjoys a walk in the fields and woods. 

 If we ask ourselves concerning the pleasure thus deriv- 

 ed, we would doubtless conclude that we are attracted by feel- 

 ing the soft earth and leaves under our feet, by smelling the 

 delightfully cool and fragrant air, by seeing the delicate plants 

 just from nature's workshop, as yet unharmed by rude and 

 vulgar contact, other plants perchance not seen by us before, 

 and in other places great logs and stumps in the natural pro- 

 cess of decay, untouched by the ravages of fire, a clean ex- 

 ample of natural return to elements from which it was con- 

 structed. If we see a beautiful bird and hear some of nature's 

 sweetest music, so much is added to the total recompense for 

 the walk. 



To those brought up in the noisy, dusty city, and unaccus- 

 tomed to the "lonely" woods, the interest is but fleeting and 

 shallow. To pick a few blossoms and leaves, soon to be 

 thrown away, to throw stones at a few frogs and birds, and 

 perhaps to climb a tree, these are the round of amusements af- 

 forded by the woods. To the one who has learned to "see" 

 things when abroad, the ramble over hills and among the 

 trees has quite a different meaning. If we are acquainted 

 with ten plants we meet, if we know the names of the trees, 

 if we notice several kinds of rocks, if we have seen among the 

 birds some that we know, we have met so many old friends 

 welcome and charming. We are still more delighted to meet 

 a new friend if one concerning which we have heard or read 

 presents himself among those already known. Any one who 



