320 
WILLIAM A. MURRILL 
Specimens of all groups of plants be thus preserved for purposes of 
reference and comparison; and, since questions of origin, distribution, 
and variation always enter into studies of classification, it is desirable 
to have these collections as complete as possible. From the standpoint 
of applied botany, the vast number of destructive plant diseases caused 
by fungi relate this subject very intimately with horticulture, agricul- 
ture, forestry, and allied sciences. 
Aside from the use of the collection by systematic botanists, plant 
pathologists, and foresters, there is a large and increasing interest 
manifested in fungi by the plant-loving public, drawn by fondness for 
the queer and unknown, or attracted by bright colors and peculiar 
forms, or by their extensive use as food. To all these, the collection 
affords the keenest pleasure and offers opportunities for further knowl- 
edge and enjoyment. 
This collection of fungi is to be the basis of nine volumes of North 
American Flora. As the various groups are worked over and new 
species published, the number of type specimens in the herbarium will 
be greatly increased. Students, collectors, and investigators through- 
out the country will continue to send in specimens for determination 
and comparison, and will come here to consult not only the ori- 
ginals, but the array of additional specimens that show the variation 
and the geographical distribution of given species and groups of 
species. 
It is hoped that important contributions may in time be made to 
questions of geographical distribution on the basis of various collections 
from distinct regions. For the purpose of recording the distribution 
of species conveniently and quickly, a chart has been prepared, 
copies of which may be properly marked and pasted on the inside of 
the species covers, to show at a glance just where a particular species is 
known to occur. 
If one wishes to distinguish specimens from different regions in the 
herbarium, he may use gummed paper markers of different colors on 
the species covers, or simply indicate the regions by numbers or letters, 
as shown in the following table: 
I. North America Na.. White VI. India In.. Orange 
II. Tropical America Ta..Red VII. China and Japan .... Cj .. Yellow 
III. South America Sa..Blue VIII. Malaya Ma.. Brown 
IV. Europe and Siberia . . . . Es . . Gray IX. Australia Au . . Pink 
V. Africa Af.. Black X. Islands Is. ..Green 
