COLLECTING AND PRESERVING FUNGI 45 



the specimens are large, perhaps two or three sheets may be re- 

 quired to accommodate the specimens. Do not fix the first packet 

 in the centre of the sheet, technically called a " species sheet," 

 but at one corner, and do not fix the packets on different slieets 

 all at the corresponding corner, but vary the position, so that the 

 sheet may be fairly flat when packed together. Write the name of 

 the fungus on the lower right-hand corner of the sheet. There is 

 a reason for this. Now suppose you have specimens of six different 

 species belonging to the genus Marasmius, mounted on six separate 

 species sheets, it is important that all the species should be kept 

 together. This is done by enclosing the six sheets in a cover which 

 should be a little larger than the species sheets, and a little thicker 

 in substance. Now write the name of the genus in bold characters 

 on the outside cover, at the lower left-hand corner. Now, when the 

 various packets of genera in their folded " genus covers " are piled 

 one on the top of another, the desired genus can readily be found by 

 raising the left-hand corner of each packet until the desired one is 

 met with. When found, the species contained within the genus 

 cover can be ascertained by just turning over the right-hand corner 

 of each species sheet in turn. This can be done by drawing out the 

 genus cover for only a few inches, and not having to remove it 

 entirely from the pile of genera, unless it contains the particular 

 species desired. Naturally all the genera belonging to each of the 

 families of fungi will be kept together ; in fact, the arrangement 

 of the herbarium should be that of the sequence of Orders and 

 Families given in the chapter headed " The Classification of Fungi." 

 The collection, at all events while small in bulk, may be kept in a 

 box, drawer, or other convenient place where there is no fear of 

 dampness. A small amount of camphor or naphthalene should be 

 placed in each packet, and the collection should be periodically 

 overhauled to see that mites, moths, or minute beetles are not 

 feasting on the specimens. 



Coloured sketches add greatly to the value of a collection, and 

 this is especially true of the agarics or toadstools, where so much is 

 lost, even when specimens are most carefully prepared. An ideal 

 species sheet should carry one or more well-dried specimens, a good 

 spore-print, a coloured sketch, and full notes. 



The objection that a person cannot draw or paint is not a suffi- 

 cient argument to prevent an attempt to do so. The production 

 need not necessarily be a work of art, and yet, however crude, it 

 conveys to the author, at all events, an idea of the original, and it 

 is surprising how soon such attempts begin to take form, and prove 

 to be of real value. 



