Shear & Stevens : Schweinitz Collections of Fungi 337 



" Previous to this visit to Philadelphia, at the end of 1850 or 

 very nearly in 1851, Curtis had also received about 200 Schwein- 

 itzian specimens from Torrey. These also he divided with 

 Berkeley where possible. Evidently therefore Berkeley never 

 saw the whole of Schweinitz's collection." 



Curtis's interest in the herbarium and his concern about its 

 state of preservation seems to have resulted in greater care on 

 the part of the authorities. At any rate in the report of the 

 curators for 1851, the year of his visit, mention is made of 

 the necessity of more carefully guarding the collections. 



In the report of the curators for 1855, (1) appears this brief 

 entry : " The herbarium of phanerogamous plants is now under- 

 going careful rearrangement by Mr. E. Durand ; and several 

 of the members intend shortly to rearrange the collection of 

 cryptogamia." Although Dr. Michener is not mentioned, it is 

 certain that at this time he had been selected to rearrange the 

 fungi, as indicated by the following note preserved in the files 

 of the Academy : 



" Will T. P. James please say to Dr. Zantzinger when con- 

 venient that would like him to see and send on the first order 

 (Hymenomycetes) of Schweinitz Fungi with portfolios paper 

 etc. whenever he can get them ready 



"and oblige 



" 31 of 8 mo 1855" " E. Michener." 



The first package of fungi was apparently sent to Dr. Michener 

 late in 1855, for early in the following year he wrote the botanical 

 committee of the Academy of Natural Sciences 3 concerning the 

 problems connected with their rearrangement. In this letter 

 Michener speaks of the poor condition of many of the specimens 

 and the fact that many of them had been destroyed by insects or 

 had otherwise disappeared. 



Subsequent letters from Michener to Dr. Zantzinger and to 

 Dr. Meigs, of the Academy, indicate that Michener worked on 

 the fungi at his home in New Garden, Pa., during this and the 

 following winters. For in a letter dated 18th of 3d mo. 1857 he 

 speaks of desiring "the balance of the herbarium." The ma- 

 terial was evidently sent to him in several different lots by way 



3 Letter in the files of the Academy dated " New Garden 16 of i mo 1856." 



