Repobt on the Botanical Exhibit. 305 



EEPOET ON THE BOTANICAL EXIIIBIT OF THE STATE 



MUSEUM. 



By CHARLES H. PECK, State Botanist. 



HOETICULTUEE GROUP 23 EDIBLE EtTNGI. 



"With the consent of the Eegents of the University, trustees of the 

 State Museum, an exhibit of dried specimens of New York's species 

 of fungi was made at the World's Columbian Exposition. The speci- 

 mens were taken from and belong to the State herbarium. They 

 were limited in number, because of the short time given to their 

 preparation and because of the limited space alloted for their exhibi- 

 tion. The space assigned was 160 square feet, on which four table 

 cases with glass tops were placed. Each case was ten feet long and 

 about four feet wide, the center being slightly elevated so that the top 

 and bottom sloped from it in each direction toward the sides. It was 

 thought that this mode of construction would be most favorable to the 

 inspection of the specimens. Specimens of fungi only were selected 

 for exhibition because a satisfactory general exhibit of the specimens of 

 the herbarium could not well be made in so small a space and because 

 these would possess an interest and novelty that would be wanting 

 in specimens belonging to other departments of botany. Besides, New 

 York State has been a pioneer, so to speak, in the investigation of her 

 mycological flora and her State herbarium is especially rich in repre- 

 sentatives and types of these plants, and it, therefore, seemed fitting that 

 she should show the world her advanced position in this direction as 

 well as in others. Though these plants often possess less popular 

 attractions than others having greater size, brighter colors and more 

 symmetry of form, yet they are scarcely inferior to any class of plants 

 in economical interest and importance. The result has confirmed the 

 wisdom of their selection for exhibition, for while there were many 

 exhibits of herbarium specimens of flowering plants and some of ferns 

 and algae, there was no other general exhibit of specimens of fungi. 

 The Department of Agriculture at Washington and the Agricultural 

 Experiment Stations had exhibits of parasitic species injurious to cul- 

 tivated plants, and the former had an exhibit of models of some edible 

 and harmful mushrooms, as well as parasitic species, but New York's 

 exhibit was much more comprehensive. Even this was limited to 

 such species as have some economical character or importance, but all 

 the great groups or divisions of fungi were represented. There were 

 sixty-one species of edible fungi, sixty-three species of wood-inhabiting 

 and wood-injuring fungi, including a few examples of wood showing 

 the effect of permeating and destructive mycelium, eighteen species of 

 parasitic fungi injurious to cultivated and useful plants, the host 

 plants plainly showing the effects of the presence of the fungus, and 

 six species injurious to noxious weeds and animals, and, therefore, to 

 be regarded as beneficial to man by aiding him in keeping his enemies 

 in subjection. The total is 148 species. 



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