6 Annual Beport of the State Botanist. 



Descriptions of New York species of Clitopilus are given in a 

 section marked E. 



The climatic conditions in the early part of the season were 

 very unfavorable to the production of fleshy fungi. Very 

 few even of the most common and ubiquitous species were 

 seen. Dry weather prevailed, and the slight rains which fell were 

 followed by such high winds and low temperature that few of 

 these fungi could grow. But with the advent of more copious 

 rains later in the season, an abundant crop of numerous species 

 appeared. A visit to Essex county at this time was rewarded by 

 large additions to the collection, many of which were new to the 

 Herbarium. Places from which the timber had been cut many 

 years ago and in which beautiful groves of young spruce, tama- 

 rack and balsam-fir trees had since grown were especially prolific, 

 though everywhere on the wooded hills and in the mossy tama- 

 rack swamps the mycological flora was rich and varied. In these 

 groves three esculent species were noticeable by reason of their 

 great profusion. In every direction and at frequent intervals the 

 brownish-red and tawny-red hues of groups and tufts of Tricho- 

 lama imbricatum, T. vaccinum and T. transmutans could be seen. 

 They might have been gathered by bushels. But for the igno- 

 rance of the inhabitants concerning these plants, their tables and 

 those of the large boarding houses there might have been sup- 

 plied with an abundance of the novel but good .and wholesome 

 food whioii these three species would have furnished for the 

 slight labor of gathering them. And other edible species were by 

 no means rare or limited in quantity. Geoglossum vitellinum, a 

 small but beautiful and tender fungus grew in such profusion in 

 low woods where the ground is covered with moss, that it was 

 tested as to its edible qualities and found to be very good. Clito- 

 cybe media, a new species, and Tricholoma transmutatis were also 

 tested for the first time. I have no hesitation in adding these 

 three species to the list of edible fungi. 



While collecting in this region the difference in the liability of 

 certain kinds of wood to fungous attack was very apparent. Old 

 stumps, prostrate trunks and decaying wood of spruce and balsam 

 were inhabited by many species of fungi, while the wood and 

 prostrate trunks of the tamarack and arbor-vitoe or white cedar in 

 similar situations were almost entirely free from them. Thus 



