42 FIELD AND FOREST. 



best way of reaching there trom the East, is via Old Dominion steam- 

 ers from New York to Norfolk and thence by rail. From Washing- 

 ton the most direct route is via Virginia Midland R. R. to Lynchburg, 

 where one can easily include Natural Bridge and the Peaks of Otter 

 in his trip. 



J. W. Chickering, Jr. 



Notes on the Fungi of Maryland. 



In writing notes upon the fungi of Maryland we feel that we are enter- 

 ing upon a wide and as yet unexplored field in botany. Perhaps to those 

 intimately acquainted with their habits and peculiarities, in every clime 

 and locality, these notes may read like a story twice told. But coupled 

 with the pleasure of jotting down our past and recent observations we 

 hope that we are claiming for our State an extensive and beautiful 

 Cryptogamic Flora. 



The mycologist may well liken himself to a pioneer wandering 

 through a land filled with alternately beautiful and fantastic shapes. 

 A land of delicate pencilings and of glowing colors, where mystery sits 

 enthroned and wise men become its worshippers. 



It is indeed no easy task to solve these mysteries. Problems lie un- 

 revealed in the dim twilight of obscurity waiting for science to reach 

 the goal of revelation. We believe that there is no secluded nook in 

 the wide domain of nature where the dust-like spores of fungi will not 

 penetrate. But there are undoubtedly three requisites necessary for 

 their germination, heat, moisture and electricity. The most abundant 

 crops come after a severe thunder storm. 



These low forms of vegetable life may be seen playing their part 

 from the most minute specks to the largest and most fully developed 

 Agaric. They are even parasitic upon each other and often evince a 

 decided partiality. Our vinegar cruits, bread, cheese, preserve jars ; 

 even the walls of our old country houses teem with these vegetable 

 vultures, which fall under the implication of pests by all good house- 

 keepers. Groups of Hyphomycetes and Physomycetes are constantly 

 being swept away into oblivion. While we mourn that so much beauty 

 should sport itself in the character of a nuisance. We have seen fungi 

 growing upon living insects, developing mycelium and feeding upon 

 them as surely as the larvae of the Ichneumon-fly feeds upon the soft 



