MYCOLOGICAL NOTES. 
BY G. G. LLOYD, 
No. 17. 
CINCINNATI, o. _ JUNE, 1904. 
272—NOTES OF TRAVEL. 
KEW. 
The institution at Kew I consider the chief botanical institution 
of the world, especially in phaenogams. Including the gardens and 
herbarium, it is a mammoth plant, employing I am told nearly 200 
persons. Under the efficient directorship of Sir W. Thistelton-I)yer it 
is run with the system and precision of an immense business house. 
Everything is system and order. In it I spent more than two months 
studying “puff-balls” and was afforded every opportunity to study the 
collection and consult the library. If I was pleased with the library 
facilities at Paris, I was delighted at Kew. Here it seems to me is to 
be found every book a botanist has occasion to consult. The books 
are conveniently arranged, and the rules are the simplest. With the 
proper introduction, a student has free access to the shelves, and when 
he takes a book all that is asked is that he put a card with his name in 
the vacant space. Nowhere can one study the literature of a botanical 
subject as thoroughly and as conveniently as at Kew. To W. B. 
Hemsley, who is chief of the Library and Herbarium I am indebted 
' for every courtesy in the matter. 
The Fungi collection at Kew comprises three important herbaria, 
that of Berkeley, Hooker and Cooke. Berkeley’s collection is richest 
in specimens of historic interest for he did most of the descriptive work 
and was in close touch with Montagne and Vittadini. The collection 
is especially rich in Vittadini types. 
BERKELEY. 
I learned much of interest concerning Berkeley while at Kew. 
He was never connected with the institution, nor did he live in the 
vicinity. He was a clergyman in a country district, with a large 
family and a modest income. The pioneer in mycology in England, 
he was indefatigable in pursuit of the subject though it never directly 
brought him any financial return. Having studied his types, des¬ 
criptions and illustrations, I can but acknowledge that his early work 
was most excellently done. Toward the latter part of his life he was 
overwhelmed with specimens from all parts of the world and his latter 
descriptions are not so thoroughly nor carefully accomplished. 
Unfortunately the American plants were worked up during the latter 
period. 
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