298 Queries and Afiswers, 



Preserving Specimens of Plants. — Sir, In your reply to the Rev. G. 

 Munford's request (p. 196.) for directions on the subject of forming a 

 herbarium, you very properly begin by speaking of the method of preserving 

 the specimens, which, of course, is almost the first step in the business. 

 Having, by experience, found great advantage from the easy method which 

 I myself adopt for this purpose, and not knowing whether the same may be 

 generally known or practised, I venture to recommend it to Mr. Munford 

 and to others, through the medium of your Magazine. The great principle 

 to be attended to is, to dri/ the specimens thoroughli/ and quickly. Accord- 

 ingly, it has more than once been remarked to me by others, that plants 

 which have been dried in hot climates, usually retain the largest share of 

 their original brilliancy and beauty ; and I have myself found that such spe- 

 cimens as I have gathered in the course of a tour, and, for want of other 

 conveniences, have merely placed between the leaves of a memorandum- 

 book, or the like, and carried in the pocket, have, owing to the warmth of 

 the pocket, been better preserved than others more leisurely dried in the 

 ordinary way. It is owing to the same cause that I have been able to 

 select from a rick of hay that had been well got, and had properly heated,spe- 

 cimens that would not disgrace a respectable herbarium. Let the specimens, 

 then, be gathered, if possible, when quite dry, and never, on any account, 

 put in water, with a view to keep them fresh, after they are gathered, and pre- 

 viously to their being pressed between paper; a practice which would tend to 

 increase the quantity of moisture in the plants, and, consequently, add to the 

 difficulty of drying them. Then take some leaves of coarse blotting-paper, 

 the more bibulous the better, and heat them at the fire, till they become as 

 hot as they can be made without scorching them. Place the specimens 

 separately between two of these leaves, so heated ; lay them between boards 

 or other flat surfaces, and press them with a heavy weight. This process of 

 heating the paper, and shifting the specimens, should be often repeated, twice, 

 or, at least, once a day, till the Juices of the plant are evaporated. In this 

 manner the specimens, if not very robust or succulent ones, will generally 

 be sufficiently dried in the course of a week, or even in less time. The 

 advantages of this method are, not only that the specimens will be tho- 

 roughly dried in a short time, and therefore will be less liable to become 

 mouldy or to decay, but also that they will generally retain the colour, both 

 of the flowers and leaves, much more perfectly than when preserved by 

 means of a slower process, and without the aid of artificial heat. A few 

 years ago, a Swiss botanist of the name of Thomas, visited this country, 

 bringing over with him extensive collections of dried alpine plants for sale. 

 That eminent naturalist A. H. Haworth, Esq., was so struck with the beauty 

 of these specimens, many of which retained the vividness of their colours 

 almost as perfectly as when they were in a living state, that he was induced 

 to ask M. Thomas what means he adopted in their preservation. Without 

 making any mystery of the art, M. Thomas readily communicated to him 

 the above-mentioned process of heating the paper ; and it is to the kindness 

 of my friend Mr. Haworth that I am indebted for the knowledge of it. — 

 W. T. Bree. Allesley Rectory, July 9. 1828. 



Preserving Specimens of Natural History. — Information on this subject 

 being requested by T. A. of Portsmouth, G. H. Ludlow, R. V. of Cork, and 

 W. I., till some correspondent favour us with details, we beg to recom- 

 mend Taxidermy, or the Art of Collectings Preparing^ and Mounting, Objects 

 of Natural History, for the Use of Museums and Travellers. London. Svo, 

 pis. 3d edit. Is. Our valued correspondent Mrs. Bowdich contributed 

 largely to this work, and was enabled to explain the different methods, by 

 attending at the laboratory in the Jardin du Roi at Paris. The appendix to 

 Mr. Waterton's Wanderings, a book which every naturalist ought to read, 

 contains some original and valuable information on preserving birds, and we 

 intend to abridge it in a future Number. 



