APPENDIX IX 



727 



beginner, but in many instances an expert may not be able to determine a specimen 

 which may have lost what undoubtedly seems to some, trivial marks. The sug- 

 gestions given here should enable one to collect specimens in such a way as to pro- 

 tect these characters while fresh, to make notes of the important evanescent char- 

 acters and to dry and preserve them properly for future study. For collecting a 

 number of specimens under a variety of conditions the following list of things is 

 recommended. 



Implements. — One or two oblong or rectangular hand baskets, capacity 8 to 

 12 quarts. 



One rectangular zinc case with a closely fitting top (not the ordinary botanic 

 case). 



Half a dozen or so tall pasteboard boxes, or tins, 3 by 3, or 4 by 4, by 5 inches 

 deep, to hold certain species in an upright position. 



A quantity of tissue paper cut 8 by 10, or 6 by 8 inches. Small quantity of waxed 

 tissue paper for wrapping viscid or sticky plants. 



Trowel, a stout knife, a memorandum pad and pencil. 



In gathering specimens, care should be taken to avoid leaving finger marks where 

 the surface of the stem, or cap, is covered with a soft and delicate outer coat. Also 

 a little careless handling will remove such important characters as a frail volva, or 

 annubus, which are absolutely necessary to recognize in a species. Having collected 

 the plants they should be placed properly in the basket, or collection case. Those 

 which are quite firm, and not long and slender can be wrapped with tissue paper 

 (waxed if the specimen is sticky), and placed directly in the basket with some 

 note or number to indicate habitat, or other peculiarity, which it is desirable to 

 make at the time of collection. The smaller, more slender and fragile specimens 

 can be wrapped in tissue paper made in the form of a narrow funnel and the ends 

 then twisted. The specimens should be placed in the basket, or case, in such a way 

 as to prevent jostling with the gill surfaces downward so that any loose sand, or 

 other material shall not fall between the gills where it is difficult to remove such 

 gritty substances. 



Field Notes. — The field notes should include data on the place where the fleshy 

 fungi grew, the kind and character of the soil, in open field, roadside, grove, woods, 

 on ground, leaves, sticks, stumps, trunks, rotting wood, or on living trees, etc. 



Sorting. — This should be done in a room with plenty of table room. This sort- 

 ing should be done at once as some forms deliquesce rapidly, others are attacked by 

 insects, while others dry rapidly, so as to lose their shape and evanescent characters. 

 Specimens to be photographed should be attended to at once. Some of the speci- 

 mens can be kept for spore prints, others must be preserved for the herbarium. 



Drying Method. — Frequently the smaller specimens will dry well when left in the 

 room, especially in dry weather, or better, if they are placed where there is a draft 

 of air. Some dry them in the sun. The most approved method is by artificial 

 heat. Two methods are applicable. 



I. A tin oven 2 by 2 feet and 2 to several feet high with one side hinged as a door, 



'Consult Atkinson, George F.: Mushrooms, Edible and Poisonous, Etc., 

 Chapter XVII. 



