REPORT OF THE STATE BOTANIST 1905 7 



The number of species of plants identified for correspondents and 

 others who have sent or brought specimens to the office of the 

 Botanist for this purpose is 601. The number of persons for whom 

 identifications have been made is 86. 



The work of testing our wild mushrooms for their edible qualities 

 has been continued. The number of species tried and approved is 

 ii. Descriptions of these have been written and constitute a chap- 

 ter on edible fungi. They are illustrated on 10 plates by colored 

 figures of natural size. Similar figures of four new species of fungi 

 have been prepared on two plates. The number of species and 

 varieties of New York edible mushrooms figured and described up to 

 the present time is 172. 



Mr Stewart H. Burnham was employed as temporary assistant 

 during July, August and September. He continued the work be- 

 gun by him last year and was chiefly engaged in disinfecting, ar- 

 ranging and labeling specimens. He also assisted in conducting 

 the correspondence of the office and in the identification of speci- 

 mens sent by correspondents. 



Respectfully submitted 



CHARLES H. PECK 



State Botanist 

 Office of the State Botanist 



Albany October 1, 1903 



