





EEVISION OF THE BRITISH WILLOWS. 



345 













































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In collecting, therefore, it is essential to guard against any 

 intermixture of specimens. To do so, not only must the trees be 

 marked, but the specimens taken from them be ticketed in such a 

 manner as to prevent the possibility of mistakes. The method 

 which experience has shown me to be a good one is as follows : 

 Provide a number of slips of paper 5 or 6 inches long by 4 inches 

 wide, each with a long slit in it. On selecting a bush from 

 which to take flower- or leaf-specimens, cut on the bark a number 

 in Roman numerals *, put the same number on one of the slips of 

 paper, and add a description of the situation of the bush ; then 

 having taken the specimens required, pass their ends through the 

 slit and transfer to the vasculum. On returning home, enter in 

 the " locality note-book " the number and other particulars of 

 the bush, and prefix in Arabic numerals the note-book or per- 

 manent number. Write the latter on small bits of paper and fix 

 one to every specimen before it is put in the press to dry. In 

 this way all risk of confusion of specimens will be avoided. 



Whilst the note- book numbers must run continuously, the 

 bush-numbers can, for the sake of convenience, be repeated when 

 the localities from which the specimens are obtained are suffi- 

 ciently distinct. 



Before pressing the specimens it is desirable to enter in the 

 note-book such particulars of the plant as can be better seen in 

 the living than in the dried condition. The importance of these 

 will vary according to the species or group. In the Synandra^ 

 for example, the extent of connation of the filaments and colour 

 of the anthers (at different ages) are points to be noted iu the 

 living plant. The colours of the different parts, structure of the 

 style, stigmas, and nectary, venation of the leaves (whether 

 raised or impressed), surfaces (smooth or wrinkled), the margin 

 (flat or incurved) are included in the characters which should be 

 recorded in the note-book. 



In drying, pressure sufficient, both in weight and continuance, 

 to keep the leaves flat, without crushing the catkins too much, 

 should be given. Some of the leaves, at various parts of the 

 specimen, should be arranged so as to show the under surface. 

 In selecting leaf-specimens side branches as well as terminal 











Herr Hauptmann Schambach, of Northeim, Hanover, has kindly suggested 

 another method of preserving the identity of the bushes. He uses narrow 

 strips of lead (stamped with a number) which can be twisted round a branch. 











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