INTRODUCTION TO BOTANY. XXV 
192. On returning from the field, sort the specimens into those that are fleshy or 
juicy, and those that are of a drier nature, and dry them in separate bundles. If 
mixed together, the former are very apt to injure the latter, and to retard their 
g: 
193. The drying process is as follows :—Take one of the flat boards or frames, 
and lay three or four sheets of the drying paper upon it. On these lay specimens, 
placing them as closely as they will lie without overlapping each other. Cover the 
specimens with a similar layer of paper ; and on this lay other specimens ; repeating 
alternately a layer of paper and of specimens, till you have either placed in paper 
all the specimens collected, or made a sufficiently thick pile. Cover the pile with 
one of the flat boards, and place upon it a heavy weight—large stones or bags of 
sand answer perfectly. If travelling, leather straps and buckles, drawn tightly across 
the bundle, are used instead of weights. 
194. After the specimens have lain a day under pressure, the about them 
must be removed, and dry papers substituted ; and this yeoteie tices be repeated 
at intervals of.a day or two till the plants are perfectly dry. If many sheets of paper 
be placed between each layer of specimens, or if open frames be used instead of 
boards, the changes need not be so frequent. In changing it is not necessary to lift 
every specimen from the sheet on which it lies ; eg ig as garea< ced over the 
specimens, the latter, with the moist sheet, may be ti over to the dry, and the 
moist sheet then removed, and this process repeated through the bundle. Much time 
- and trouble may thus be saved. 
195, On the first day of shifting a sharp look-out should be kept for caterpillars, 
which are apt to secrete themselves in flowers, and, if not at once removed, will 
quickly destroy the specimens under pressure. 
196. In fine weather the bundles of specimens, weighted or strapped, may be ex- 
posed to the strongest heat of the sun; but as this causes a rapid extraction of 
moisture, in order to insure its passing away, the plants must, on bringing in, and 
while still warm, be shifted into fresh papers : otherwise mouldiness and decay, and 
not exsiccation, will ensue. Artificial heat, not greater than 140°, may be substi- 
tuted in wet weather. 
197. In drying plants within the tropics, and in all damp and hot climates, fre- 
quent shifting of papers is necessary ; if neglected, the specimens will either fall to 
pieces, or become mouldy and rotten. 
198. Fleshy fruits should be preserved in spirits ; or carefully sketched, and the 
seeds or hard parts dried. nee 
199. Succulent plants, heaths, and plants with compound leaves (such as Mimosec), 
should be dipped (all but the flowers) for a few seconds into boiling water, before 
being placed in the drying papers. This will kill them, promote the drying of suc- — 
culents, and mestrong fog Bee 25 &c., from shedding their leaves. ae 
200. Plants with delicate corollas ([ridee, Oxalidee, wane should be placed | 
tween single leaves of very thin and soft, unglazed paper ring or tissue 
In shifting to dry eertn! An tissue paper is not to be removed, but lifted 
contents to the dry layer. This will prevent the flowers from curling” 
external 
202. Having dried his plants, the student begins to form his Herbarium or Hor- 
tus-Siccus. The first step is to assort the specimens, first into their classes ; then into 
sub-classes, orders, genera, and species. When this is done, he selects such specimens 
of each species as he wishes to retain for future reference, consigning the remainder 
‘to separate bundles labelled “duplicates,” and keeping them for exchange with other 
botanists. 
208. The specimens selected, having first been examined and named, are either 
fastened with thin to pieces of stiff white or cream-coloured cartridge of 
-@ uniform size, or loosely, or secured by cross-bands or pins, in double sheets 
of soft paper. In either case the species belonging to each genus are placed within 
