514 BULLETIN 168. (54) 



the characters on the lower end of the stem. Also use care in 

 handling the stems so that the "collar," when present, and the 

 delicate scales, be not rubbed off. The corky or woody fungi 

 growing on trees, logs, stumps, etc., may be wrapped in the 

 same way. In all specimens from logs or trees, the name of the 

 wood should be given when that is accurately known. When 

 the name of the tree is not known a portion of the wood and 

 bark, or some leaves, nay accompany the specimen. The corky 

 or woody fungi may be dried before mailing if desired. To dry 

 the fleshy fungi requires considerable care, and usually artificial 

 heat, for they must be dried quickly, not burned or roasted, 

 though careful notes upon the characters of the plants while fresh, 

 should also be made before they are dried, in most cases. 



An extemporized oven for drying may be made of tin, with 

 holes in the sides for ventilation. In this the plants can be 

 placed in paper boxes while they are drying. The oven may 

 then be placed above a stove, or a lamp may be placed under- 

 neath it. Shelves above a stove where warm air is constantly 

 rising is a good place to dry the plants. The best place that I 

 have ever used is the brick work around a large steam boiler, 

 the plants, or boxes containing them, being placed directly on the 

 brick work. Parasitic fungi on leaves of plants should be dried 

 between absorbent paper under some pressure to keep the leaves 

 from shriveling and curling. 



Dried specimens of the mushrooms can be wrapped in tissue 

 paper for shipment. It is better in most cases, however, if the 

 plants are shipped away for determination, to send them in a 

 fresh condition. At least some duplicates are desirable in a fresh 

 condition, since fresh material is often necessary for determina- 

 tion of the species, especially with doubtful species, and in the 

 case of many genera. 



When fresh material is mailed, if the sender will use foresight 

 in putting it up and mailing just in time for a mail train which 

 makes good connections through, specimens will usually travel 

 several hundred miles and arrive in a good condition. 



Specimens sent by mail require, according to the present 

 postal regulations, i ct. per 2 ounces in weight, and the 

 package should be marked " plants." Wherever it is desired to 



