288 FUNGI. 
The Agaric, or other similar fungus, is cut perpendicularly from 
the pileus downwards through the stem. A second cut in the 
same direction removes a thin slice, which represents a section of 
the fungus; this may be laid on blotting paper, or plant-drying 
paper, and put under slight pressure to dry. From one-half of 
the fungus the pileus is removed, and with a sharp knife the 
gills and fleshy portion of the pileus are cut away. In the same 
manner the inner flesh of the half stem is also cleared. When 
dried, the half of the pileus is placed in its natural position on 
the top of the half stem, and thus a portrait of the growing 
fungus is secured, whilst the section shows the arrangement of 
the hymenium and the character of the stem. The other half 
of the pileus may be placed, gills downward, on a piece of black 
vaper, and allowed to rest there during the night. In the morn- 
ing the spores will have been thrown down upon the paper, 
which may be placed with the other portions. When dry, the 
section, profile, and spore paper may be mounted together on a 
piece of stiff paper, and the name, locality, and date inscribed 
below, with any additional particulars. It is advisable here to 
caution the collector never to omit writing down these particulars 
at once when the preparations are made, and to place them 
together, between the folds of the drying paper, in order to 
prevent the possibility of a mistake. Some small species may 
be dried whole or only cut down the centre, but the spores should 
never be forgotten. When dried, either before or after mounting, 
the specimens should be poisoned, in order to preserve them 
from the attacks of insects. The best medium for this purpose 
is carbolic acid, laid on with a small hog-hair brush. Whatever 
substance is used, it must not be forgotten by the manipulator 
that he is dealing with poison, and must exercise caution. If 
the specimens are afterwards found to be insufficiently poisoned, 
or that minute insects are present in the herbarium, fresh 
poisoning will be necessary. Some think that benzine or spirits 
of camphor is sufficient, but as either is volatile, it is not to be 
trusted as a permanent preservative. Mr. English, of Epping, 
by an ingenious method of his own, preserves a great number 
of the fleshy species in their natural position, and although 
