BOTANICAL COLLECTIONS IOI 



upon classes, I am convinced that it is true economy to 

 buy only the best white flint glass bottles with ground 

 glass stoppers, not only for specimens in liquids, but 

 also for dry objects, such as seeds, which need some 

 kind of a vessel. Thus not only are all specimens safe 

 from evaporation and dust, but the respect of the stu- 

 dent is far greater for a compact, artistically presented 

 specimen than for one in a green leaky jar or a dusty 

 box, and hence its value to him is greater. The 

 teacher, too, is more likely to accumulate only things 

 of value if the receptacles must be economized. For 

 a collection of my own I prefer a dozen such specimens 

 to thrice that number indifferently prepared. I have 

 experimented with several forms of bottles, and finally 

 have fixed upon Whitall and Tatum's (Boston and New 

 York) No. 2605 specimen jars, which may be had in 

 all sizes, and for which their published prices are sub- 

 ject to large discounts. I prefer the appearance of 

 these to that of the kinds without a neck. But of 

 course if one cannot afford such bottles, some of the 

 many forms of preserve jars will do very well, and are 

 far better than nothing at all. In whatever manner 

 prepared, however, every specimen should be in condi- 

 tion to be handled and passed about. Tight, upright, 

 glass-fronted wall cases should be provided for them, 

 and it is well to have them very fully labelled and care- 

 fully arranged upon a definite plan in order that they 

 may be as instructive as possible when not actually in 



