238 Transactions British Mycological Society. 
abroad at the rate of about two thousand per annum. This 
number is expected to show considerable increase in the not 
distant future. A catalogue giving all the strains conserved up 
to date is at present in the press and is expected to be available 
for distribution very shortly. The Staff are prepared to give 
assistance in the identification and classification of strains sent 
in by correspondents. 
Mycological Collection. 
During the early part of the current year it was proposed to 
extend the scope of the National Collection by including repre- 
sentative fungi derived from various sources. As was the case 
with bacteria, so also the need of a Mycological Collection had 
long been felt. To some extent the Centraalbureau voor Schim- 
melcultures, Amsterdam (now at Baarn), had been found useful 
by British and Imperial botanists, but it was the general 
opinion that a collection of fungi in this country was very 
necessary for the co-ordination of research. No other Institution 
contemplated the formation of such a collection at that time 
and the National Collection was glad to be in a position to offer 
its services to Mycologists. In order to insure that this side of 
the collection might be made of the most value, the British 
Mycological Society were asked to appoint a fully representative 
standing committee to advise and assist in all questions apper- 
taining to fungi. The following members of the Society were 
appointed: 
Prof. V. H. Blackman Dr E. J. Butler (Chatrman) 
Mr W. B. Brierley Mr A. D. Cotton 
Mr F. T. Brooks Mr J. Ramsbottom 
Dr R. St John Brooks Miss E. M. Wakefield. 
The scope of the Mycological Collection includes the collection 
and maintenance of cultures of fungi of importance in phyto- 
pathology, medicine, veterinary science, technology and soil 
biology, types useful for teaching purposes and any rare or 
interesting species. At present it is not possible to cope with 
the innumerable strains of common fungi and only room can 
be found for those forms with some published distinguishing 
name or symbol. 
It is found necessary at present to restrict the collection to 
fully identified species of fungi and in sending these it should 
be stated by whom they were named, and also whether a 
special medium is required for their growth, as only a few 
standard media are in general use in the collection. It must 
naturally be left to the discretion of the Curator and the 
Advisory Committee to decide whether given cultures are of 
