117 
. SCHIMPER’S MOSSES. 
Onr Bryological readers will be glad to learn that the splendid 
collection of European mosses, which were contained in Schimper’s 
herbarium, and which were transferred by the liberality of the 
Baroness Burdett Coutts to the Herbarium of the Royal Gardens, 
Kew, have been in course of arrangement, and are now eligible for 
consultation by those interested in the subject. Including, as this 
collection does, the herbarium of Bruch, all the types of Bruch 
and Schimper are accessible to those who are interested in the 
labours of the learned authors of the “ Bryologia Europsea.” 
PRESERVATION OF FUNGI. 
Some years ago, when Mr. James English, of Epping, first 
exhibited his specimens of the fleshy fungi, as preserved by him, 
by means of a new method, so as to retain much of their natural 
appearance, there was considerable curiosity amongst fungologists 
as to the secrets of the process. Some suggested one thing and 
some another, but no one produced similar specimens. As time 
progressed the process was improved, and there still seems to have 
been an anxiety amongst some to know how it was accomplished. 
At length Mr. English has announced that having been often 
applied to for details of his method, he has at length resolved to 
communicate it for a consideration. That is, he is prepared to 
print and publish a full account of his process, with all the 
requisite information, by subscription. If a sufficient number of 
persons will subscribe, or send in their names as subscribers, to his 
manual, at the subscription price of five shillings, he will print it 
as soon as the requisite number are obtained. This must be con- 
sidered as a reasonable proposition. He says, justly, that the ex- 
periments caused him much anxiety, and entailed expense and great 
loss of time, and he cannot be expected, in addition, to speculate 
on the publication of his method, and invest money in printing, 
without a reasonable guarantee that he shall not be out of pocket. 
He considers that the only eligible course for him to pursue is to 
give those who desire to obtain the information the opportunity of 
doing so by means of a list of subscribers, as by this plan he will 
learn what encouragement there will be for him to publish his 
manual, and how far he will be justified in taking that step. 
Having consented to explain these circumstances, we now leave 
the subject in the hands of our readers, with the intimation that 
all further particulars may be obtained by communication with Mr. 
James English, Naturalist, Epping, Essex. 
