226 STUDIES OF AMERICAN FUNGI. 



poses of illustration one wishes pretty spore prints, perfect caps 

 must be cut from the stem and placed fruiting surface downward 

 on paper prepared with some gum arabic or similar preparation 

 spread over it, while the paper is still moist with the fixative, and 

 then the specimen must be covered with a bell-bar or other receiver 

 to prevent even the slightest draft of air, otherwise the spores will 

 float around more or less. The spores may be caught on a thin, 

 absorbent paper, and the paper then be floated on the fixative in 

 a shallow vessel until it soaks through and comes in contact with 

 the spores. 1 have sometimes used white of egg as a fixative. 

 These pieces of paper can then be cut out and either glued to card- 

 boards, or onto the herbarium sheet. 



Sorting the Plants. This should be done as soon as possible after 

 collection. A large table in the sorting room is convenient, upon 

 which the specimens may be spread, or grouped rather, by species, 

 the individuals of a species together, on sheets of paper. Surplus 

 dirt, or wood, leaves, etc., can be removed. A few of the specimens 

 can be turned so that spores can be caught on the papers. If only 

 one or a few specimens of a given species have been found, and it is 

 desirable not to cut off the cap from the stem, the plant can be sup- 

 ported in an upright position, a small piece of paper slit at one side 

 can be slipped around the stem underneath the cap, on which the 

 spores will fall. Sometimes it will be necessary to cover the plant 

 with a bell-jar in order to prevent it from drying before the spores 

 are shed. Experience with different species will suggest the treat- 

 ment necessary. 



Taking Notes on the Specimens. Very few probably realize the de- 

 sirability of making notes of certain characters while the plants are 

 fresh, for future reference, or for use by those to whom the plants 

 may be sent for determination. It is some trouble to do this, and 

 when the different kinds are plentiful the temptation is strong to neg- 

 lect it. When one has available books for determination of the spe- 

 cies, as many as possible should be studied and determined while 

 fresh. But it is not always possible to satisfactorily determine all. 

 Some may be too diificult for ready recognition, others may not be 

 described in the books at hand, or poorly so, and further the number 

 of kinds may be too great for determination before they will spoil. 

 On these as well as on some of the interesting ones recognized, it is 

 important to make a record of certain characters. These notes 

 should be kept either with the specimen, or a number should be 

 given the specimen and the notes kept separately with the cor- 

 responding number. 



