INTRODUCTION TO CllYPTOGAMIC BOTANY. 371 



destroyed like larger insects with the sublimate wash, but, un- 

 fortunately, not without injury to the specimens. Myxo(/astres 

 will not admit of pressure when half grown. Specimens must, 

 therefore, either be left till they have arrived at perfection, or 

 they must be dried by exposure to a hot atmosphere. When 

 perfect they are easily spoiled by heavy weights, and are best 

 preserved in little shallow boxes ; which may be so contrived 

 as to admit of easy insertion with other specimens in the herba- 

 rium. In Phalloidei and a few of the larger Gasteromycetes, 

 where the structure is rajjidly changed after the formation of 

 the spores, it is advisable to save a few specimens in spirits. 

 This is, however, a plan, which, for many reasons, I should not 

 recommend to be carried out on a large scale. As subsidiary 

 to other specimens, individuals so preserved are always valu- 

 able ; but they lose so many characters, that by themselves 

 they are seldom available for description. 



408. The greatest difficulties are presented by the fleshy 

 Fungi. A great many of these, however, by proper care admit 

 of excellent preservation. Very useful specimens may be pre- 

 pared after the excellent method proposed in this country by 

 Klotzsch, after Lasch ;* though I think the plan should not 

 entirely supersede the more ordinary mode. A clean section 

 is made exactly down the centre of the fungus, and a thin 

 slice removed from each half, which, when carefully dried, 

 gives the details of the gills, the cavity of the stem, and 

 the form of the fungus. The two half pilei are then separated 

 and dried after the gills and flesh have been removed, and the 

 two half stems after a little of the more solid matter has been 

 taken away. Admirable specimens may be prepared in this 

 way with a little nice manipulation and care in the renewal 

 of the drying paper with sufiicient frequency. When the spe- 

 cimens, after being glued down, are deposited in the herba- 

 rium, they can only be kept free from insects by frequent in- 

 spection, and by the room in which they are placed being per- 

 fectly dry. A fresh brood of insects will sometimes arise in 

 specimens which have been impregnated with the sublimate ; 



* Linn., vol. v., p. 478 and 62G, tab. 9, Klotzsch in Hook. Bot. Misc., 

 vol. 2, p. 159. 

 24 * 



