THE HISTORY OF MYCOLOGY IN ESSEX. 269
who are fond of drawing Flowers, to take accurate figures,
accompanied with descriptions of such of them as they may
happen to meet with in their walks or elsewhere. By
following this recommendation, a very large collection of
drawings might be made in a short time, which by being
shown to those who make the study of these vegetables part
of their botanical pursuits, might prove of considerable benefit
to the science.
"What renders it peculiarly desirable for all those who are
capable of taking good figures, to pay attention to this Tribe,
is the difficulty, indeed it may be said of some of the species,
the impossibility, of preserving them like other plants ; and
also of conveying them to a distance in a fresh state, to be
figured. Some sorts, the Lycoperdons, the hard Boletuses,
and some Sphaerias, may easily be preserved in a dry state
for many years, without materially altering their shape.
Others, the Mucors, are so tender, that great care must be
taken not to shake them, in removing them from their places
of growth. There are some of an intermediate substance,
which may be preserved in Herbariums in a dried state, and
be of great service to Botanists; several species of Agaric
may be thus kept. It is those sorts which when gathered
cannot be sent to a distance without losing their shape or
colour, which require immediate attention : it may be observed
in such cases, that 'delay is dangerous,' and that 'there is
no to-morrow;' for a few hours, or less, will make so great a
difference in their appearance, as to render it impossible for
them to be properly figured by any one."
"The Genera here adopted will most probably not be thought
sufficient to comprehend the known species, although four
more in number than what Linnaeus arranged all the species
of Fungi in, contained in his works. Persoon, a modern
writer on this Tribe, has divided it into seventy-one genera,
a number much greater than appears necessary. Those
here given are no by means supposed to be all, that may
on further consideration and investigation appear proper.
Incomplete as the selection of genera may be, it is hoped
it will serve the purpose of affording sufficient information
to those who may attentively examine it, to be at no great
difficulty, in most cases, in determining what genus any