CORNELL UNIVERSITY, ITHACA, May 15, 1899. 

 HONORABLE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE, ALBANY, N. Y. 



Sir: This bulletin, the second of a series of "Studies and 

 Illustrations of Mushrooms," is submitted under Chapter 67 of 

 the Laws of 1898. The object of these studies is to give accu- 

 rate information upon, and illustrations of, the more common 

 mushrooms or toad-stools. This should enable interested per- 

 sons to collect and determine specimens occurring from spring to 

 late autumn. Large numbers of the edible species go to waste 

 each year for the want of some clear and ready information to 

 assist in distinguishing the edible from the poisonous kinds. 



It is to be regretted that in the smaller cities, in suburban 

 districts, and upon the farms, more attention is not given to 

 learning to know well a few of the more common species, since 

 the fields and woods where these plants grow are so easy of 

 access. By careful attention to the localities and by comparison 

 of the plants with the descriptions and illustrations given in 

 these bulletins, a person having no botanical knowledge can 

 identify a number of these plants. Every one has, or should 

 have, a certain amount of leisure time which can be devoted to 

 recreation, or relief from the every day work. Many find enjoy- 

 ment and profit in combining such recreation with an interest in 

 some observation upon nature and natural objects. Having 

 learned to recognize the edible species, it is possible thereafter to 

 readily collect for food large numbers of the more common ones. 

 Some of these plants are so easily determined that children only 

 eight years old, after seeing the photographs of two of the 

 species illustrated in this bulletin, were able later to name the 

 plants from freshly collected specimens, without the opportunity 

 of a comparison with the photographs. 



One not familiar with the subject should use caution in the 

 first collections of an unknown plant. It is well in some cases 



