Fungi for the Herbarium 



having white spores. If there is any doubt, set two fungi — one 

 with a coloured disk and the other with a white one. 



It is an easy matter to fix spores for future use, but a more 

 difficult matter to fix them so that they represent a picture of the 

 radiating gills. In order to do this the stem must be cut from 

 the cap, and the cap must be so arranged over the paper that no 

 draughts shall disturb the spores as they fall, and also so that it 

 may be removed from the paper without disturbing the spores 

 after they have fallen. The writer would suggest that two fine 

 wires should be thrust horizontally and at right angles to each 

 other through the cap, and that the ends of the wires should be 

 supported in a convenient manner, so that the cap may just 

 swing free from the paper which is to receive the spores. The 

 whole must be covered to keep the spores from being disturbed 

 by draughts. When the spores have fallen, the cover can be re- 

 moved, the cap raised, and the spore-print fixed. 



Various methods of fixing spores for prints are recommended. 

 The following are quoted from a bulletin of the Boston Mycoiog- 

 ical Club : 



The following directions for fixing spore prints are taken from Herpel (" Das 

 Prapariren der Hutpilze "). 



Paper which is somewhat absorbent must be used; unglazed blue or black paper 

 (of which the colour must be unaffected by the fixative) for white-spored species. 

 The piece of paper bearing the spore print is to be laid, spores upward, in a flat plate 

 or platter on which a thin layer of fixative has first been poured. The fixative is al- 

 lowed to soak up through from below, and should not overflow the edges of the 

 paper. When it is certain that the spores as well as the paper are thoroughly soaked, 

 the preparation is removed and dried; sometimes, to prevent sticking, being laid on 

 moistened blotting-paper. 



The fixative to be used will vary with the species. For instance, the spores of 

 Cantharellus cibarins and some others may be fixed by water alone. The following 

 solutionis recommended for Boleti and species with coloured spores: One part san- 

 darac, two parts mastic, and two parts Canada balsam, dissolved in thirty parts of 

 ninety-five per cent, alcohol. In the use of this it has been found that the time of 

 soaking necessary to fix the spores is for Boleti, two minutes; Dermini, Coprinarii, 

 Gomphidius, Paxillus, Russula, and Lactarius, four to five minutes; pink-spored 

 agarics, also dark brown spored (as the meadow mushroom), and Cortinarii, six to 

 eight minutes. It is important that the alcohol should be full strength. 



A gelatine solution is useful for white-spored species. This is prepared and used 

 warm. Its strength varies with the species. Lepiota procera, Collybia radicata, and 

 Clitocybe laccata may be fixed by a solution of one part gelatine to thirty of water. 

 For species of Tricholoma this is too strong, and one to sixty, or one to two hun- 

 dred must be the formula. The difficulty arises here from the fact that an excess of 



148 



