INTRODUCTION. 
XXXI 
tion may often be correct, but not always, and even when 
correct something more is required, for the evidence must be 
present as to what kind of fungus has produced the spotting, 
and this evidence depends on the presence of fructification. 
Many a weary hour of fruitless labour may be expended in the 
examination of spotted leaves which do not furnish the organs 
essential to an accurate diagnosis. Hence it will be evident that 
the mere collector must acquire sufficient elementary informa- 
tion to guide him, and prevent the accumulation of a store of 
waste material, in which a pocket lens will show no probabilities 
°f fungoid growth in some condition of fructification. A little 
knowledge and experience may be sufficient to determine the 
presence of reproductive organs in some form or other, even 
when larger experience and a more extended knowledge may be 
Essential for accurate determination. 
Information is continually being sought as to the best means 
of preserving fleshy fungi, so as to forward them to distant 
places for identification. It is by no moans easy to furnish such 
advice, but the attempt must be made. The large woody Poly- 
porei, and the leathery species of Stereum, only require to be 
dried (flattened where possible) to be available for the 
herbarium. With the soft and fleshy Agarics the case is 
different, as they shrink out of all recognition, change colour, 
and are liable not only to decay, but also to quick demolition 
hy insects. No satisfactory determination of these can be made 
unless accompanied by sketches of the form, size, and colour as 
m life. It is not absolutely essential that they should be 
coloured, although that is best, but the colours must always be 
stated on the drawings. To assist those who are not facile 
with the pencil, it is recommended that the specimen collected 
should be divided longitudinally through the cap and down the 
centre of the stem. When this is done one half should be laid 
°n a sheet of white paper, with the cut surface downwards, and 
Ike outline traced carefully upon the paper with a sharp 
pointed pencil. On removing the specimen there will be left 
upon the paper an outline of the form of the Agaric, natural 
Size. This may be completed by hand, drawing in the line 
parking the margin of the cap, indications of scales on the 
pileus (if any exist), the character of the ring (if present), and 
Ine scales, lines, or markings of the stem. Another copy of the 
section, made side by side, on the same paper, would give the 
outline of the gills, and by a little care and practice it would be 
found easy to draw the line from the stem to the edge of the 
°up, indicating the point of junction of the gills with the flesh 
°f the cap. This should be done very carefully and accurately, 
as it must be depended upon to show whether the gills are 
fiuite free from the stem at their inner extremity, or whether 
U 'ey are adnexed, or whether they are decurrent, and to what 
®xtent they run down the stem. Then, also, it should be shown 
*f the stem is solid or hollow. A little colouring, even if not 
