REPRESENTED IN THE EPPING FOREST MUSEUM. 7
or even the large indurated ones, but to rest content at first with
limited groups, such as the Uredines or Rusts, and the Ustilagines
or "Smuts;" these could be preserved well, would lie flat,
could be kept free from injury from insects, and would always
retain their characters, so as to be of service for reference. These
being satisfactory, and fairly complete, another group could be
added, such as the foliaceous, or rather the Epiphyllous
Sphaeronemei, and these again by the folicolous Sphaeriae, so that
at any time the expense would be limited, the attention of
collectors concentrated, and the demand for space small. All
that would be wanting would be the willing hands, ready to do
something more practical than talking.
The Liverworts might be treated in the same way, and prove
a nice little group within the compass of any lady or gentleman
with a moderate amount of intelligence and industry.
No one would dispute for a moment that Mosses are ad-
mirably fitted for this kind of treatment, and would make a most
attractive album, capable of almost any amount of elaboration.
Whilst even it might be prudent to commence with Sphagnaceae
with the aid of Dr. Braithwaite's Monograph and afterwards
proceed gradually with the rest.
These suggestions do not appear to be so very Quixotic, so
incapable of realization, but rather eminently practicable ; pro-
vided those enthusiasts could be found in sufficient number to
carry them out. The sort of people who are not afraid of a little
work, even if there is no pay (and there used to be such people in
my younger days).
It may only be a matter of detail, but whatever else is done,
it is imperative that all due precautions should be taken to
prevent injury to the contents of the Museum by damp. No
pains should be spared to insure a persistent and permanent dryness,
or all other labour will be in vain.
Although thankful for small mercies, it seems to be a pity
that so important an Institution as a County Museum, should be
limited within so small a space. Seen from the outside, and then
seen inside, the result was, in one case at least, rather disap-
pointing. When the possibilities of the future are contemplated,
a sigh of regret is sure to come. How can a satisfactory result
be obtained within such narrow boundaries ? It is evidently not
a question of how to get enough material to fill the space, but how
to find space enough for all the material which could be accumulated.