BOTANICAL COLLECTIONS III 



mens are firmly glued to the half or somewhat smaller 

 sheets, which are then placed between those covers 

 used in colleges by students for holding any num- 

 ber of sheets of paper, and held by paper fasteners. 

 The thickness of the specimens is compensated by 

 extra strips or stubs, and additions and rearrange- 

 ments may be made with great ease. The collec- 

 tion is then practically a book, and may be kept 

 among books. The specimens are amply large for 

 amateur's use. If it be thought that specimens so 

 kept are particularly liable to dust and insect-rav- 

 ages, it must be remembered that they are no more 

 so than they are in the usual condition in which be- 

 ginners keep them, and that if one cares, he may 

 keep these books also in tight tin cases. It is some- 

 times said in favor of the standard size that if a stu- 

 dent continues his studies, his collection will form a 

 nucleus for his larger herbarium ; but it is not fair 

 to put the dozens who go no further to much incon- 

 venience for the sake of the rare one who does. 



Specimens of the plants themselves include also the 

 various anatomical preparations, skeletons to show the 

 fibro-vascular system, wood-sections, etc., and particu- 

 larly microscopical preparations. It is well to have a 

 wide range of the latter for demonstration and for 

 voluntary study by those whose tastes incline them to 

 it ; and it is also profitable to have some sets for use 

 in the regular class work, as recommended in certain 



