alone. The following solution is recommended for Boleti and species with 
colored spores : i part sandarac, 2 parts mastic, and 2 parts Canada 
balsam dissolved in 30 parts of 95 % alcohol. In the use of this it has 
been found that the time of soaking necessary to fix the spores is for 
Boleti, 2 minutes ; Dermini, Coprinarii, Gomphidius, Paxillus, Russula 
and Lactarius, 4 to 5 minutes; pink spored agarics, also dark brown 
spored (as the meadow mushroom), and Cortinarii, 6 to 8 minutes. It is 
important that the alcohol should be full strength. 
A gelatin solution is useful for white spored species. This is pre¬ 
pared and used warm. Its strength varies with the species. Lepiota 
procera, Collybia radicata, and Clitocybe laccata may be fixed by a solu¬ 
tion of 1 part gelatin to 30 of water. For species of Tricholoma this is 
too strong, and 1 to 60, or 1 to 200 must be the formula. The difficulty 
arises here from the fact that an excess of gelatin makes the spores trans¬ 
parent and even invisible. Their opacity may be secured by previous 
treatment with a solution of 1 part mastic in 30 of ether. 
For certain kinds (Tricholoma personatum, Lepiota granulosa, 
Amanitopsis vaginata, and others which experiment will discover), 10 to 
25 per cent, of alcohol must be added to the gelatin solution in order to 
make the spores adhere. 
Experience will doubtless show that other fixatives maj’ be used. 
Gum arabic, for instance, suggests itself. This, however, if strong, is 
apt to cake the spores together. If one method fails, invention and 
repeated trials must find a successful means. Reports are requested from 
all who engage in the amusement of making spore prints. To these a 
suggestion not without value is that dry agarics (like Marasmius and 
some Collybias) may be kept in a condition to shed spores by putting 
moistened blotting paper under them. 
A word as to Color Nomenclature may be of use, especially since 
widespread objection is made to the conventional designation “ purple ” 
applied by some writers to the dark brown spores of Agaricus, Hypho- 
loma, and other genera. In order that some system (even if not the 
ideally best) may be adopted in our descriptions, it is suggested that use 
be made of the color charts in Saccardo’s “ Chromotaxia, ” mentioned else¬ 
where. This would give uniformity, and the chart could be used as a 
key in interpreting written descriptions of specimens sent in for identi¬ 
fication. It can and will no doubt be supplemented by the varied and 
exact color vocabulary drawn from familiar objects, such as blood, lemons, 
and mice. 
The following Useful Books are noted here for the benefit of those 
who may not know them. 
Notes for Mushroom Eaters, W. G. Farlow, (25 cts.), contains the 
soundest advice to the inexperienced, together with a general account of 
the principal groups of fungi, with special descriptions and cuts of some 
of the common edible and poisonous kinds. 
Suggestions to Collectors of Fleshy Fungi, L. M. Underwood (25 cts.), 
contains a synopsis of essential characters to be noted, a key to genera, and 
brief notes of the extent and edible characters, with references to the most 
complete synopses of some American genera. 
Mushrooms and Their Use, C. H. Peck (50 cts.), contains the fullest 
general and popular account with cuts of our common native species, 
and is as useful a book as a beginner can get hold of. 
Fiihrer fur Pilzfreunde, E. Michael ($ 1.75), contains much useful 
information as to collection for the table, cooking, etc.; also fine naturally 
drawn and colored plates of 68 species (all but a few are common with us) 
with brief descriptions of each. It is useful even to those ignorant of 
German. 
British Edible Fungi, M. C. Cooke, ($2.50) contains descriptions and 
colored plates of upwards of 40 species, with other entertaining matter. 
