August. 1907] Mycolnglcal Bulletin No. 80. 345 



of which have been described as new species; but of this number only 

 five have been described from States west of the Alleghany Mountains, 

 while from the majority of the States west of this line no species what- 

 ever have been reported. An economic as well as a scientific interest 

 attaches to the genus, since Lactaria deliciosa and Lactaria volcnia are 

 among the choicest of the esculent mushrooms, and several other 

 species are considered nearly as palatable. 



"The generic characters are conspicuous. The exudation from cuts 

 and bruises in the flesh or gills, of a white or colored juice having the 

 consistency of milk, is usually sufficient to mark the specimen as a 

 Lactaria.. In common with the Ritssulac, the Lactariae have a vesiculose 

 structure which gives the flesh of both the stem and the pileus a cellular 

 appearance much like pith, and in consequence of this structure, the flesh 

 is readily ])roken and is never fibrous or tough, and the stem is never 

 cartilaginous. The genus is characterized also by the occurrence in 

 many species of concentric bands of deeper color on the surface of the 

 pileus. producing what is termed a zonate pileus. The Lactariae are 

 found chiefly in woods or on the border of woods, and they vary in 

 size from species with the pileus less than 2 cm. broad to species having 

 a pileus 1.5 cm. or more across. 



Alinute directions are then given as to observation and study of 

 the milk, the pileus, the gills, the stem and habitat. As to color, she says : 

 "One of the distinguishing points of a species is the color of the pileus. 

 Not only is this a varial)le character, but two collectors may describe 

 the same color in different terms. Much difficulty can be avoided if a 

 collector uses some standard color scheme, as Saccardo's Chromotaxia. 

 Perhaps the most complete and satisfactory color chart is Repertoire de 

 Couleiirs pnblished by the French Society of 'Chrysanthemistes,' which 

 gives ,'{().') distinct colors in various tones, including the reproduction of 

 the colors recognized by Saccardo. The color description should be 

 made as soon as possible aft'.-r collection and should include the color of 

 young, mature and old specimens. If the pileus is zonate, the zonation 

 should be described carefully." 



Concerning the colU-clinn and preserving she says: "Of course, it is 

 of primary importance that the different specimens or "numbers" gath- 

 ered should be kept distinct. This is easily accomplislied by carrying 

 in the collecting ])askct a supply of various sized paper sacks, and a 

 species may then be placed in a bag with the accompanying field-notes. 

 Like care must be used during the process of drying the mushrooms; 

 for the mushrooms must be dried and preserved, since the descriptions 

 arc as useless without the dried specimens as are the latter without field- 

 notes. The Lactariae may be dried successfully by spreading them on a 

 wire screen which may be put under the kitchen stove or su.spended 

 about three feet above it. Oven heat is liable to be too great for the 

 best results. When possil)le, three or four t\-pical specimens of a species 

 should be preserved, representing both young and mature condition. 

 When dry, the mushrooms, together with the field-notes, may be trans- 

 ferred to paper sacks again, or to suitable boxes, and filed away for 

 future study and identification. If some time is to elapse before this 

 study is to be undertaken, something like naphthaline flake otight to be 

 put In the boxes to protect the mushrooms from the attacks of the larvae 

 of moths and carpet beetles. 



These points and t)thers are summed up in the shape of a blank fo'- 

 descriptive notes, just the thing to carry in the field, and use in the 

 laborator}', as follows : 



