HOW TO GATHER PUFF-BARRS. 
Simply pick them up, handle 
them carefully so as not to mash 
them, and if they are just ripen¬ 
ing and are moist, spread them out 
on the floor in a garret or where 
they will be out of the way and 
let them dry. Then pack them 
loosely in a little box, don’t 
squeeze or bruise them, and ex¬ 
press or mail to me. If you rec¬ 
ognize different kinds, keep them 
separate. If your boxes are not 
full, pack in loosely, a little cot¬ 
ton or tissue paper t cotton is bet¬ 
ter) to fill out. Do not wrap in 
paper or put in paper bags. If 
you have enough to justify send 
by express at my cost, if only a 
small box by mail, and I will re¬ 
fund postage. 
DO NOT SEND RARGE ONES. 
The puff-balls we are anxious to get are the little fellows about 
the size of walnuts or apples and especially the very small ones like 
hazel nuts. There are a great many different kinds of small ones. 
There are only a few kinds of the big ones, say three inches or more 
in diameter, and it is not worth while to send them. If you are send¬ 
ing a lot of little ones by express, it would be well however, to enclose 
a single ripe specimen of any large kind you may find. If you have a 
very large one, say the size of your head or bigger, do not send it. It 
is Rycoperdon giganteum, and of no interest. 
CONCRUSION. 
Our museum bottles hold a pint and when a crop is found it is 
usually just as easy to gather enough to fill a bottle as to pick up one 
or two specimens, and it is far more satisfactory to me to have ample 
material to work with. Do not hesitate to send specimens because you 
fear they are something common. We will take the risk. Some years 
ago a friend in Philadelphia sent me a box of Geasters half apologiz¬ 
ing for sending because they would probably prove to be something 
common. They are to-day the most interesting Geasters in my collec¬ 
tion because no one else has ever sent them nor can I find them de¬ 
scribed. If you know the species, we will state that Rycoperdon gem- 
matum, Rycoperdon pyriforme, Scleroderma verrucosum, Geaster hyg- 
rometricus and all the large Calvatias are not specially desired. If you 
do not know them take the risk of their not being “something com¬ 
mon" and pick up any little puff-ball you may meet. Your trouble 
will be fully appreciated. 
Fig. 28. 
Geaster. 
58 
