Some new Fungi, chiefly from Alabama, 



By Lucien Marcus Underwood, 



In certain favorable seasons the Southern States offer fine op- 

 portunities for field work in mycology. It is fortunate that we are 

 beginning to have intelligent field workers that are resident in- 

 stead of transient collectors, for it is only by persistent resident 

 work that anything like a clear understanding of the flora can be 

 obtained. While much is still to be desired in many of the South- 

 ern States, it can safely be said that the Stales of Alabama and 

 Mississippi, at least, are now fairly well equipped with local workers, 

 as compared with neighboring States, if one or two workers for 

 an area of 50,000 square miles can be regarded as a fair equip- 

 ment. Many species are comparatively ephemeral, and only the 

 local observer who is at hand at the favorable moment is able to 

 gather the harvest. The fall season of 1895 was specially un- 

 favorable for field work, on account of excessive drought, and this 

 condition prevailed more or less throughout the spring season. 

 In fact, not until July, 1896, were the rains sufficient to bring out 

 the normal hymenomycetous flora. Since that time, and particu- 

 larly during the months of October, November and December, 



