168 ESSEX FIELD CLUB'S "FUNGUS FORAY."
ing groups, the members of which' happen to mature during the
spring and summer. Such a list indicates at a glance the fact
that the Society in question is not interested in fungi from a
scientific standpoint, but simply repeats annually, in an auto-
matic manner, a custom which originated by chance rather than
design. The remedy for this state of affairs is obvious.
[At our request, Mr. Massee has added a short list and analyses of works
suitable for the student, which our members may find useful.
The following books deal exhaustively with different groups of Micro-
fungi. All are illustrated :—
A Monograph of the British Uredineae and Ustilagineae. C. B. Plowright-
Regan, Paul, French & Co. 8s. 6d. This book deals with the life-history and
classification of those destructive parasites popularly known as producing
"Rust," "Smut," "Bunt," &c., on cereals and other cultivated and wild
plants.
British Fungi: Phyeomycetes and Ustilagineae. G. Massee. Lovell Reeve
& Co. 7s. 6d. Contains a general introduction to the study of Fungi, and
descriptions of all British species included under the two families mentioned.
British Fungus-Flora. G. Massee. George Bell & Sons. Four volumes,
ys. 6d. per volume. Vol. III. contains the Hyphomycetes, popularly known as
"Moulds" and "Mildews.'' The species are minute, but exceptionally
beautiful as microscopical objects. Vol. IV. is devoted to the Discomycetes,
a group; including the fungi known under the general names "Peziza,"
"Morel,'' &c. The species are abundant, very beautiful in form and colour,
and from a biological stand-point they are exceedingly interesting.
To these may be added the following, which will be most useful to those
wishing to take up the study from an economical point of view, so necessary
to farmers, gardeners and foresters :—
A Text-book of Plant Diseases caused by Cryptogamic Parasites, G. Massee.
Duckworth & Co. 5s. nett. This is a hand-book of plant diseases, not too
technical, with descriptions of the most approved curative and preventive
methods.
Diseases of Field and Garden Crops, chiefly such as are caused by Fungi.
Worthington G. Smith. Macmillan. 4s. 6d.
Text-booh of the Diseases of Trees. Dr. Hartig. Translated by Prof.
Somerville. Macmillan.
Timber and some of its Diseases. Prof. Marshall Ward. Macmillan. 6s.
We know that our thoughtful members will accept Mr. Massee's criti-
cism of our annual "Fungus Meetings" as being in a large sense deserved.
We have long felt the unsatisfying nature of the occupation which consists in
picking up an Agaric, greeting it with a learned name, and then throwing it
away ! The neglect of the smaller—but, to a biologist, the more interesting
minute forms—is also a sad feature, which should no longer be allowed to dis-
figure our Cryptogamic assemblies. But it should be remembered that our
Club is not especially a Mycological Society, and we may plead, in arrest of
judgment, that the Fungus Flora of Epping Forest was practically unknown
until our "Forays" began, 19 years ago, to afford materials for the lists of the