554 SHEAR AND STEVENS: Ezra MICHENER 
and number of the labels, to each sheet —as thy own judgment may direct. —Common 
Bookbinders boards are not substantial enough for the portfolios—they should be 
very 
A pte paper than this sheet would also be better for the first class (Hymeno- 
mycetes) as many of the species are very course and ru ie 
Should we succeed satisfactorily with the Wuier ESBE NES we may then be 
prepared to arrange the Lichens & Musci in the same way—but will try one at a 
time 
if the portfolios should not be sent wage the other materials please inform 
me what size the Boards for them will be c 
Ses 
E. MICHENER 
Dr. ZANTZINGER. — 
The first package of fungi appears to have been sent to Dr. 
Michener shortly after this letter was written for early in the 
following year, 1856, he sent a letter to the Academy concerning 
the problems connected with their rearrangement. This letter 
contains so much information regarding the condition of the 
herbarium at that time as well as the part played by Michener in 
its rearrangement that it is here printed in full. 
New GARDEN 16 of I mo 1856 
Botanical Com. Acad. Nat. Sciences, 
I have mounted specimens of all that could be found in the parcel of Fungi 
s 
proclivity which characterize some other would-be naturalists. As a preventive I 
would suggest that you carefully look over the collection before sending it so as fully 
to tines its dilapidated condition. 
are two points upon which I wish the advice of the com.—If the port 
folios are not yet made I would suggest the propriety of reducing the size of the sheets 
an Is.—I am not unmindful of a desire to preserve uniformity in the entire 
Herbarium (and this could still be done in appearance on the shelves) but I think it ° 
would be at the cost of convenience and utility. —If it does not come too late I would 
recommend the size and form of the accompanying specimen—The adoption of it 
would cost you a trifle of lost labour—and me a good deal more but I think would 
repay it. — 
I also wish your advice upon the arrangement —The original idea was to follow 
Schweinitz Synopsis so far as specimens were to be found—and then to fill up the 
blanks so far as I can out of my own collection. —But this does not admit of intro- 
ducing either his own exotic species —or other more recent discoveries in their proper 
connection’. —We have no very good classification but must follow some one —I 
prefer Lindley’s [revised ?].—The specimen sheet is intended to discriminate between 
the North erican & exotic species of Shw. Herb. —and also those which may be 
subsequently added —by the colour of the paper a reference on the label to the 
source whence the specimen was derived. If this should be thought sufficiently to 
