•50 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE 



will not be satisfied to confine himself to these two forms, but will enlarge 

 his list to at least a score of species suitable to cater to his wants. The 

 gnawed remnants of Polypori found on stumps and logs duiing the winter 

 seem to attest to the high estimation in which some of these fungi are 

 held by the squirrels. Many pounds of fairy-ring mushrooms, Marasmius 

 oreades, grew on the College campus last season and were eagerly sought 

 for by people from the city of Lansing. No doubt many persons are re- 

 strained from the use of these plants as food through fear of the poisonous 

 qualities of certain species; and, while this fear has been a safeguard 

 against accident, it has also been the means of depriving these persons 

 from a food of palatable and highly nutritious qualities. While care is 

 necessary in the collection of mushrooms for food, still one can learn 

 with careful observation to readily discriminate between species so that 

 the deadly Amanita and its noxious relatives may be avoided. 



*'The handsomely illustrated book, 'Our Edible Toadstools and Mush- 

 rooms,' by the late Hamilton Gibson, is doing much toward popularizing 

 the eating of mushrooms among those who have access^ to the book. The 

 forty-eighth report by Prof. Peck, recently received, should be mentioned 

 in this connection, as it contains many illustrations and descriptions of 

 edible fungi found in the state of New York. A smaller w^ork of similar 

 character by Julius A. Palmer, Jr., is also a desirable book for those 

 wishing to become familiar with the commonest forms of edible fungi. 

 The scientific side of the subject is a field which seems to have been but 

 little worked in our State, although our woods and fields and even our 

 dooryards can furnish abundant material. A surprising number of species 

 can l3e found in a limited area. Very much the larger part of our collec- 

 tion has been made in a piece of woods about seven acres in extent lying 

 a little north of the College campus. If is our intention to continue 

 making a careful study of these plants in our county and State, and we 

 should be pleased to communicate with persons interested in thi^ subject. 

 We will endeavor to identify specimens sent us." 



There have been added the past year flowering plants, ferns and their 

 allies from: 



A. A. Heller, Idaho plants 330 



S. B. Parish, plants of southern California 106 



A. H. Curtiss, series 4, of Florida 200 



C. G. Pringle, Mexican plants 300 



C. K. Dodge, Port Huron and vicinity 158 



J. M. Holzinger, Carices from Pike's Peak 16 



L. H. Bailey, Carices, desiderata 20 



H. C. Skeels, plants from Delavan, Wis 33 



Miss E. J. Cole, Colorado plants 6 



C. F. Baker, Colorado plants 43 



C. A. Davis, plants from Huron county 62 



H. H. Eusby, plants from South America 30 



Collections of plants at the College, mostly desiderata 100 



A. A. Crozier, collections in Mexico and New Mexico 150 



C. D. McLouth, plants from Muskegon 40 



; ' ' 1,594 



