132 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



A part of the report containing remarks on previously recorded species 

 and descriptions of new varieties is marked D. 



The summer has been unusually deficient in rainfall in many parts of 

 the state, and a notable deficiency in the number and variety of mush- 

 room growths in those regions has been the result. But in a strip of 

 country in the northern part, including Essex county and the southern 

 part of Franklin county showers were frequent, resulting in a fine crop 

 of fleshy coriaceous and corky fungi. Collecting trips were made to 

 these favored localities, one to North Elba in July, one to Floodwoodin 

 August and the first part of September and one to Westport in the latter 

 part of September and the first part of October. These trips were very 

 successful, and furnished the larger part of the fungous collections of the 

 season. Many new species were discovered, and the edible qualities of 

 a considerable number of species were tested. Of the species tried dur- 

 ing the season, 16 that have been found worthy of addition to our edible 

 hst have been figured and described according to the plan adopted in 

 previous reports. The descriptions of these are contained in a part of 

 the report marked E. Figures have also been prepared of some of the 

 new species discovered. 



In cloudy, showery or rainy weather specimens of fleshy fungi can not 

 be well dried by exposure to the sun, and even in clear, diy weather it is 

 difficult to dry well those with tbick^and moist flesh. The -darkness and 

 dampness of night interrupt the process, and the specimens are very 

 liable to lose or change color in consequence. They are also liable to be 

 injured or destroyed by the larvae of insects before this slow and inter- 

 rupted process can be completed. To meet this difficulty, I have had a 

 tin evaporator made, which can easily be taken apart, its component 

 pieces packed in small space, put in an ordinary trunk and taken on my 

 collecting trips. The heat is furnished by a common kerosene lamp 

 placed beneath the evaporator when in use and kept burning night and 

 day. In this way the drying process is continuous, and the specimens 

 hold their color very well. The thin ones which dry quickly can be 

 removed as soon as dry, and their places taken by others. The work of 

 drying and preparing the specimens for the herbarium is greatly expe- 

 dited, and their appearance far more satisfactory than when dried by the 

 other method. 



Certain species of wood-inhabiting fungi belonging to the families 

 Agaricaceae, Polyporaceae and Hydnaceae, are specially liable to the 

 attacks of insects. The application of poison as a preservative is trouble- 

 some and not always satisfactory or permanently effectual. For these 



