3&7 
FUNGI FROM VARIOUS STANDPOINTS.* 
G. MASSEE, F.L.S.. 
Forty years ago there was only one text book dealing with 
fungi to which British Students had access, and 'that was 
the one written by Berkeley, who was thoroughly in touch 
with Fries, the great Swedish mycologist. In their day 
emphasis was laid on such characters as could be determined 
in the field with no greater assistance than that provided 
by a pocket lens. No high powers of magnification were used. 
At the present time we look at species very much from another 
standpoint, and more stress is laid on microscopic characters. 
To-day there are two types of mycologists, the field mycologist, 
and the laboratory mycologist. There is, however, a danger 
in laying too much stress on microscopic characters. One 
type of mycologist ignores microscopic characters, the other 
goes to the other extreme. It is necessary to give not too 
much importance to any single character, but to judge a 
species by the sum total of its characters, Speaking generally, 
microscopic combined with macroscopic characters should be 
considered in order to arrive at a correct determination. In 
the Discomyceteae however, microscopic characters are of 
special importance. 
In the Uredineae, as shown by Sydow, host plants are of 
the greatest importance in determining species. In the 
larger number of species in that Order it is impossible to deter- 
mine species from spores only, except in very few cases, and 
particularly when the fungus is in the uredospore stage. In 
the Uredineae successful infection tests are indispensable. 
In the study of mycology it is important to begin with a 
scientific basis. By commencing with a systematic study of 
the subject a safe starting point is assured. 
Fungi are very variable, their extreme variability being 
due chiefly to differences in the period of growth, and to 
climatic conditions. 
What is being done in the herbarium is absolutely valueless 
from a systematic point of view, so far as the Agaricaceae are 
concerned. Frequently the merest scraps sent by some far- 
away correspondent are used, the student being quite un- 
familiar with the type from a field point of view. 
The diseases caused by fungi constitute a very important 
matter, and Yorkshire mycologists have been pioneers in their 
investigation. The economic side of the subject is of very 
* Delivered at the Yorkshire Fungus Foray at Sandsend. 
1914 Dec. 1. 
