REPORT OF THE STATE BOTANIST 1908 7 
Unfortunately, the information sought by means of these send- 
ings and the value of the specimens sent are both lost by neglect 
of proper precautions in transmission. Soft, fleshy or fragile 
specimens of fungi are placed in a letter and mailed without any 
protection. Consequently they are generally crushed and spoiled 
beyond recognition. They are sometimes sent in a thin straw- 
board box or a mere paper wrapper and the result is the same. 
Such frail specimens should be wrapped in soft tissue paper (not 
in cotton) and packed closely enough to prevent jostling, in a firm 
cardboard box or a thin wooden box or other receptacle firm 
enough to protect them. It is well in sending fleshy perishable 
specimens of larger size to wrap each one separately before putting 
them in the mailing receptacle. Good sound specimens of both 
“mature and immature age should be selected for sending. Speci- 
mens that have a sodden or water-soaked appearance or are visibly 
infested by insect larvae or are affected by incipient decay should 
never be sent, for they are almost sure to be completely spoiled 
before reaching their destination. Even in sending sound speci- 
mens long distances, it is well, as far as possible, to time the 
sending so that it will not be necessary for it to lie in the post 
office over Sunday. When the transmission would require more 
than three days it would be better to write full descriptive notes 
of the characters of the fresh plants, then dry the specimens and 
send both together. It is better not to cut, split or mutilate the 
specimens in any way before sending them. 
Revised descriptions of the New York species of the genus 
Lentinus and of Entoloma have been prepared. They may be 
found under their respective headings, “New York species of 
Lentinus”” and “ New York species of Entoloma.” Similar brief 
monographs of certain genera of mushrooms have previously been 
published and have been so well received by students of mycology 
and acknowledged by them to be such a valuable part of the re- 
ports that it is thought well to continue them. They furnish in 
compact and convenient form a ready means of obtaining a knowl- 
edge of the number and characters of our New York species and. 
their generic relations. The descriptions are preceded in each 
genus by a “key” which is intended to facilitate the tracing: of 
each species to its description. 
In many parts of our State the season just passed has been 
strangely adverse to the mushroom crop. Rain was not lacking 
in the early part of the season, but the prevailing low temperature 
apparently prevented the development of mushrooms that other- 
