Introduction 



artist and mycologist occurs in Mr. Val. W. Starnes, Augusta, Ga., to 

 whom this volume owes many of its illustrations. Mr. Frank D. Bris- 

 coe, widely known as an artist of rare ability, has arranged and painted 

 in groups the studies made by the writer from typical plants, and added 

 to the illustrations many excellent drawings of his own. 



The unfailing reliability of the sun has been masterfully used by Dr. 

 J. R. Weist, ex-Secretary of the American Society of Surgeons, Rich- 

 mond, Ind. ; H. I. Miller, Superintendent Terre Haute and Indianapolis 

 Railroad, Terre Haute, Ind., and Mr. Luther G. Harpel, Lebanon, Pa., 

 in making the unexcelled photographs generously contributed by them. 

 The author is most thankful to them and to Mr. C. G. Lloyd, Cincin- 

 nati, Ohio a scientific gentleman devoting lavishly of his time and 

 money to the spread of mycological knowledge for the privilege of 

 selecting from his extensive collection of realistic photographs those 

 adaptable to the species described herein. 



The author's thanks are gratefully given to the many who have by 

 help and encouragement furthered his efforts in producing this, the 

 first American text-book upon fungi. Space precludes the naming of 

 the many, but the few named do not outrank them in their interest, help 

 and the author's appreciation: 



Miss Lydia M. Patchen, President of the Westfield, N. Y., Toadstool 

 Club (the first in America); Mrs. E. C. Anthony, Thomas J. Collins, 

 E. B. Sterling, Berry Benson, Melvil Dewey, New York State Librarian; 

 Dr. J. E. Schadle, Prof. J. P. Arnold, University of Pennsylvania; 

 Prof. W. S. Carter, University of Texas; Boston School of Natural 

 History; Massachusetts Horticultural Society; Prof. Wm. G. Farlow, 

 University of Harvard. 



Thus aided the author believes that his own conscientious, patient, 

 loved labor in the study of edible and non-edible fungi and the produc- 

 tion of this volume will be far-reaching in its one object encouraging 

 the study of toadstools. 



The time for writing a complete flora of the United States has not 

 yet come ; a large part of the country remains as yet unexplored by 

 mycologists ; new species are being constantly discovered in the districts 

 best known. Every book on the subject must be necessarily incomplete. 



On the other hand, so far as concerns the known fungus-flora, there 

 is imperative need of some guide to the student, which shall at least 

 save him some part of the weary toil of hunting through the scattered 



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