e NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



wise would doubtless have appeared. Later in the season when the 

 l)revailin,ij temperature was more favorable, the necessary rain and 

 moisture were Licking. This unfavorable condition continued so 

 late in the season that those species which usually appear in August 

 and .September either failed entirely to appear or ai)peared much 

 later in the season. Reports state that very large crops of the 

 common mushroom, A g a r i c u s c a m p c s t e r L. have appeared 

 in a few localities in November. This is nearly or quite two 

 months later than its usual time. The light fall rains, which were 

 unusually late, gave the mycelium its first opportunity to develop. 

 These rains were followed by exceptionally fine mild and sunny 

 weather which was very favorable to the development and spread 

 of the mycelium or " spawn." The result was a very abundant 

 crop of mushrooms in those places where a rich soil aided the 

 favorable weather conditions. 



Tlie new species and varieties of fungi described by the State 

 Botanist are now so numerous and the periodicals, reports and 

 buUelins containing these descriptions are so many and so scattered 

 and the inquiries concerning the place where one and another of 

 them can be found are so frequent that it has seemed quite de- 

 sirable that a list of these species be given with the places of their 

 publication. This has been prepared and will doubtless be of aid 

 to all interested in mycology. The names are arranged alpha- 

 betically and the most obvious synonymy is given. This list may 

 be found under the title " List of species and varieties of fungi 

 described by C. H. Peck, State Botanist, with bibliographic loca- 

 tions cited and some of the most obvious .synonyms given." 



Mr S. H. Burnham has performed the necessary clerical duties of 

 the office, disinfecting, mounting, labeling and arranging specimens, 

 assisting in the identification of specimens, attending to the 

 official correspondence of the office and giving information to 

 callers during my absence in the field. He has also made con- 

 tributions to the herbarium of specimens collected on Saturday 

 half holidays. 



Charles H. Peck 



Albany, December 20, ipo8 State Botanist 



