•62 The Scottish Naturalist. 



Attention has been so often and so fully directed of late years 

 to the existence of cleistogamous flowers in the plants possessed 

 of them, and also of dimorphous and trimorphous flowers, that 

 there are few to whom they are quite unfamiliar, but too often still 

 they are not found in the herbarium. 



The transition is natural from flowers to fruits and to seeds, 

 both of which should be represented, if possible along with the 

 plants. Small dry fruits and seeds are easily accommodated, like 

 other small parts of plants, in small envelopes on the sheet with 

 the specimen. Larger fruits and seeds, if dry, are best kept in 

 boxes of suitable size ; if fleshy they require to be preserved in 

 bottles in some preservative fluid. Of course all ought to be care- 

 fully labelled to render errors in reference to them impossible. 



The interest and value of the study of Botany is very greatly 

 increased by observing the adaptations to favour pollination of 

 the stigma in the various plants, and those to favour dispersion of 

 the seeds, whether affecting the seeds themselves or the carpels or 

 outer floral whorls. It is certainly difficult to show the adaptations 

 affecting the floral organs in pollination in the dried plants, yet it 

 may often be done in some degree with a little care, especially if 

 sketches are affixed to the sheets. On the other hand the adapta- 

 tions for dispersion of the seeds are many of them such as to be 

 easily preserved and clearly shown in herbarium specimens. 



Before passing from the points to be observed in collecting the 

 specimens, it may be noted that the stipules are worth careful 

 attention, and ought to be properly displayed. In many trees, 

 e.g., the Oak and the Beech, they serve the functions of bud- 

 scales, and when the buds open they soon fall off, leaving so 

 little trace that their existence might be entirely overlooked on 

 examining the branches at a later period of the summer. 



Turning now for a little to the modes of preparing the specimens, 

 we may glance at a few of the difficulties that meet the collector, 

 and at the best modes of overcoming these. The question of dry- 

 ing paper is one that may be left to the determination of each 

 individual, since any paper will do with skill to use it. The 

 absorbent paper prepared for the purpose is the most satisfactory 

 for use ; but it is somewhat expensive if much of it is used ; while 

 old newspapers will do, but need to be more frequently changed. 

 The press is an article of some consequence, as lightness and 

 simplicity in use add very greatly to its value. As the result of ex- 

 perience of a good many years duration, the \triter would strongly 

 advise beginners to discard solid wooden boards, and to make use 



