288 FUNGI. 



The Agaric, or other similar fungus, is cut perpendicularly from 

 the pileus downwards through the stem. A second cut in the 

 same direction removes a thin slice, which represents a section of 

 the fungus ; this may be laid on blotting paper, or plant-drying 

 paper, and put under slight pressure to dry. From one-half of 

 the fungus the pileus is removed, and with a sharp knife the 

 gills and fleshy portion of the pileus are cut away. In the same 

 manner the inner flesh of the half stem is also cleared. When 

 dried, the half of the pileus is placed in its natural position on 

 the top of the half stem, and thus a portrait of the growing 

 fungus is secured, whilst the section shows the arrangement of 

 the hymenium and the character of the stem. The other half 

 of the pileus may be placed, gills downward, on a piece of black 

 paper, and allowed to rest there during the night. In the morn- 

 ing the spores will have been thrown down upon the paper, 

 which may be placed with the other portions. When dry, the 

 section, profile, and spore paper may be mounted together on a 

 piece of stiff paper, and the name, locality, and date inscribed 

 below, with any additional particulars. It is advisable here to 

 caution the collector never to omit writing down these particulars 

 at once when the preparations are made, and to place them 

 together, between the folds of the drying paper, in order to 

 prevent the possibility of a mistake. Some small species may 

 be dried whole or only cut down the centre, but the spores should 

 never be forgotten. When dried, either before or after mounting, 

 the specimens should be poisoned, in order to preserve them 

 from the attacks of insects. The best medium for this purpose 

 is carbolic acid, laid on with a small hog-hair brush. Whatever 

 substance is used, it must not be forgotten by the manipulator 

 that he is dealing with poison, and must exercise caution. If 

 the specimens are afterwards found to be insufficiently poisoned, 

 or that minute insects are present in the herbarium, fresh 

 poisoning will be necessary. Some think that benzine or spirits 

 of camphor is sufficient, but as either is volatile, it is not to be 

 trusted as a permanent preservative. Mr. English, of Epping, 

 by an ingenious method of his own, preserves a great number 

 of the fleshy species in their natural position, and although 



