REPORT OF THE STATE BOTANIST I9IO 9 



That we may have a more definite knowledge of the species of 

 plants that are most prevalent in our marshes, and consequently the 

 most common agents in transforming our marshes into a more 

 useful condition, a list of the flowering plants and ferns of tw.) 

 of our marshes has been made. This list, with a description of 

 the marshes, will be found in a chapter entitled " Cranberry and 

 Averyville marshes,'' 



In accordance with the plan previously adopted, a revision of 

 onr species of Hypholoma and Psathyra has been made. The 

 descriptions have been rewritten and the species arranged in the 

 groups or sections in which they were distributed by Fries, and 

 the usual '' keys " prepared. The chapters containing these descrip- 

 tions are respectively entitled " New York species of Hypholoma " 

 and " New York species of Psathyra." 



The coincidence between a plentiful crop of wild mushrooms 

 and good crops of staple agricultural products has been noticed in 

 previous reports. The past season has furnished a noticeable 

 confirmation of the results of previous observations. While the 

 usual summer drouth in the eastern and southeastern parts of the 

 State was quite severe and wild mushrooms correspondingly scarce, 

 in other parts of the State the rainfall has been more abundant 

 and the crop of wild mushrooms has been plentiful. One corre- 

 spondent writing from Silver Springs, Wyoming county, in speak- 

 ing of one of his collecting excursions, says, " I am swamped with 

 the number and variety of mushrooms now growing in the woods. 

 It seems that I find a new kind at almost every step. I had a 

 market basket full of specimens which comprised about fifty spe- 

 cies." Another correspondent writing from Fourth lake, Herki- 

 mer county, says, " Mushroom hunting has been very delightful 

 here this season. I have found so many fine specimens I could 

 not keep pace with them." 



The season has been specially favorable to the development of 

 the giant pufTball, Calvatia gigantea ( Batsch) . They 

 have appeared in unusual numbers and, in some cases, of unusual 

 size. A correspondent writing from Pittsford, Monroe county. 

 says, *' I am sending you a specimen of Calvatia gigantea 

 weighing seven ]K)unds. They arc very plentiful here this season. 

 1 have seen thirty-five or more, one weighing twelve pounds." 

 A single one of medium size, that is, eight to ten inches in diam- 

 eter, is sufficient to afford a meal to a family of ordinary size. 

 The same correspondent says " Pufifballs arc growing here by the 

 hundred and we are enjoying them very nuich. Mushrooms in 



