mens. The “type” of Podaxon pistillaris is here, also of “ Lycoperdon, 
stellatum”; or rather two “ types” for Linnaeus labeled two species of 
Geaster, “ Lycoperdon stellatum ” and neither is the one that modern 
name jugglers have shuffled under that name. 
LEIDEN. 
To my mind the most historical collection in existence of the 
fungi of Europe is the herbarium of Persoon the ‘ Father of Mycology.” 
Persoon was a good collector and it was gratifying to find his herbarium 
in very good condition and fairly complete Persoon worked before 
the days of the microscope and was evidently much puzzled (as are we 
of later days) wdth the confusing forms in the genus Lycoperdon. 
He labled many of his specimens with a ? mark, and many of his 
species include specimens that we now are certain are entirely 
different species. It was of great interest to me to study these speci¬ 
mens from the historical light they threw 7 on the subject but I shall not 
attempt to change established usage in Europe though several names 
attributed to Persoon are now used in a sense not historically correct. 
It is use that makes language and a plant that has acquired a name 
from general use “or misuse” should retain it. Old and familiar names 
are good names and I do not favor changing them. 
Persoon’s herbarium is not kept at Leiden as it should be, sep¬ 
arate and distinct on account of its historical importance, but is made 
a part of a general herbarium. At present it is the greater part of the 
mycological collection and the few other plants mixed with it do not 
matter much, but if it were a large col'ection as at Kew and Berlin 
such a condition would be unfortunate. I am under obligations to Dr. 
J. W. Gotthart, the Conservator of the “ Rijks-Herbarium ” for facili¬ 
ties to study it. Dr. Gotthart speaks English very fluently. The 
“ Rijks-Herbarium ” wdiere Persoon’s specimens are preserved in the 
language of Holland means •* National-Herbarium.” 
BERLIN. 
Nowhere else in Europe have I noted more botanical activity 
than at the Botanisches Museum at Berlin. The director, A. Engler, is 
a very energetic man and under his management the institution is fast 
taking the lead in botanical matters. They have outgrown their 
present museum facilities and now everything is crowded but a new 
building is in process of construction which will afford them ample 
room. 
The mycological department is under Dr. Hennings. It is ex¬ 
tremely rich particularly in African plants and I found there in the 
“puff-ball” line many species not to be found elsewdiere in Europe. 
It is also of considerable importance historically as Link’s Ehrenberg’s 
and many of Kalchbrenner’s plants are to be found there. I know no 
one in Europe that I like better than Dr. Hennings personally. I 
could not speak German, nor he English or French, but we both knew 7 
a common subject and managed I think to convey our ideas to each 
other. Dr. Hennings is a very busy man, and I think that more speci¬ 
mens are reaching Berlin to day than all other institutions combined. 
Dr. Hennings w T as most liberal to me, not only affording me every op- 
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