370 BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 



throughout the long and active career of this justly celebrated 

 botanist, and enriched by a great number of correspondents, 

 is surpassed by few others in size, and by none in impor- 

 tance. In order that it may remain as authentic as possible 

 for his published works, especially the Prodromtis^ no subse- 

 quent accessions to families already published are admitted 

 into the general herbarium, but these are arranged in a 

 separate collection. The proper herbarium, therefore, accu- 

 rately exhibits the materials employed in the preparation of 

 the Prodromus, at least so far as these were in Prof. De 

 Candolle's own possession. As almost twenty years have 

 elapsed since the commencement of this herculean under- 

 taking, the authentic herbarium is of coui'se much less rich 

 in the earlier than in the later orders. The Composites, to 

 which seven years of unremitted labour have been devoted, 

 form themselves an herbarium of no inconsiderable size. It 

 is unnecessary to enumerate the contributors to this collec- 

 tion, (which indeed would form an extended list,) since the 

 author, at least in the later volumes of the Prodromus, care- 

 fully indicates, as fully as the work permits, the sources 

 whence his materials have been derived. The paper em- 

 ployed is of an ordinary kind, somewhat smaller than the 

 English size, perhaps about fifteen inches by ten ; and the 

 specimens are attached to half-sheets by loops or slips of 

 paper fastened by pins, so that they may readily be detached, 

 if necessary, for particular examination. Several specimens 

 from different sources or localities, or exhibitinn- the different 

 varieties of a species, are retained when practicable ; and 

 each species has a separate cover, with a label affixed to the 

 corner, containing the name and a reference to the volume 

 and page of the Prodromus where it is described. The 

 limits of genera, sections, tribes, &c., are marked by inter- 

 posed sheets, with the name written on projecting slips. 

 The parcels which occupy each compartment of the well- 

 filled shelves, are protected by pieces of binder's i)oard, and 

 secured by a cord, wh.icli is the more necessary as the cases 

 are not closed bv doors or curtains. 



