Report of the State Botanist. 67 



the present time twenty plates have been completed and five 

 others are partly done. About forty plates will be needed to 

 illustrate the species satisfactorily. Except in case of some 

 of the smaller species, an entire plate is devoted to a single 

 species, so that its variations in size and color may be 

 shown. The plates are 9 x 12, or 7% x 9£ within the marginal 

 lines. It has been my purpose to make a personal trial of all the 

 edible species illustrated so that it may be possible for me to 

 speak with confidence concerning their qualities. With two or 

 three exceptions this has been done with the species already fig- 

 ured, and these exceptions will be tried as soon as opportunity is 

 afforded. From the eagerness with which literature pertaining 

 to and illustrations of edible and poisonous fungi are sought and 

 from the numerous inquiries received by me concering the edible 

 qualities of specimens sent in for identification it is clearly mani- 

 fest that there is a widespread and increasing desire among our 

 people to understand more of this subject and to be able to dis- 

 tinguish with confidence the good species. I am sure therefore 

 that any well-directed and faithful efforts to meet this demand 

 and to give reliable information on this subject will be well 

 received and highly appreciated. 



Some observations of no little interest have been made upon 

 some of the parasitic fungi. A minute grayish mold-like fungus, 

 known to mycologists as Botrytis vulgaris is quite common. It is 

 classed among the saprophytes, and its habitat is given as " decay- 

 ing herbs, fruits, flowers, twigs and leaves." My observations 

 lead to the conclusion that it often acts as a true parasite. It is 

 common enough on the fruit of strawberry, raspberry and black- 

 berry plants. It spreads rapidly in favorable weather from the 

 affected to the sound fruit. If a sound berry is in contact with 

 one affected by this fungus a discolored decaying spot soon 

 appears at the point of contact, showing clearly that the myce- 

 lium of the fungus has passed from the diseased berry to the 

 sound one and penetrated its tissues. In this way the contagion 

 will quickty extend through all the berries of the cluster, pro- 

 vided they touch each other and the diseased ones are allowed to 

 remain in place. The fungus quickly produces rot or decay in 

 the berry it attacks but it has no hesitation in attacking perfectly 

 sound and healthy fruit. 



