224 



THE ALUMNI JOURNAL, 



In the examination of an unknown plant, the 

 height, shape and epidermis of the stem should 

 be considered, and whether endogenous or ex- 

 ogenous, although in most cases the venation 

 of the leaves will show the latter just as well. 

 The leaves should be examined as to phyllo- 

 taxy, venation, shape and size. The flowers 

 should be examined as to the parts present, 

 their size, shape, color, union, insertion, etc., 

 and then vertical and transverse sections should 

 be made, notes being made of the different ob- 

 servations. 



When this has been done the name can in 

 most cases be speedily determined by means of 

 the analytical key in the front of "Gray's Man- 

 ual of Botany." 



Beginners will find it easier to analyze regu- 

 lar flowers of fair size, such as the corn cockle 

 (^Lychnis Githago), which is frequently found 

 in wheat fields to the annoyance of the farmers, 

 or what is still better, is for the first time to 

 take known flowers like the apple blossom or 

 wild rose, find the description in the "Manual" 

 and compare it carefully. After this has been 

 done a number of times they will be better able 

 to proceed with unknown flowers. 



BOOKS TO USE. 



To those with but little knowledge of botany 

 will find Mrs. Dana's "How to Know the Wild 

 Flowers," in which they are classified accord- 

 ing to color, and many of them illustrated, an 

 interesting book, while if they desire to increase 

 their knowledge they will find Professor Bas- 

 tin's "Laboratory Exercises in Botany" a most 

 valuable work. Gray's "School and Field Bot- 

 any" (revised edition ) is also an excellent work, 

 not so technical as the "Manual," and it in- 

 cludes many of the cultivated as well as wild 

 flowers. 



The next step is 



THE PRESERVATION OF THE SPECIMENS. 



They should be dried between sheets of ab- 

 sorbent paper with heavier sheets occasionally 

 interspersed, sufi&cient pressure being made by 

 means of weighted boards. 



Perhaps a better arrangement for drying is 

 to use for top and bottom an open frame or 

 lattice work, each frame consisting of two lay- 

 ers of yi. inch strips crossing each other at right 

 angles, having a hook in the end of each strip. 

 The sheets of drj'ing paper are laid between the 

 frames and the proper pressure is made by 

 means of a stout cord passing around the hooks 

 the whole being hung where there is a current 

 of air. 



In the case of hollow leaves like the sarrace- 

 ma [pitcher plants'], or flowers like stem less 

 lady's slippers {cypripeditan acaiile), absorbent 

 cotton should be placed in them to facilitate 

 drying and to preserve their outlines. 



Specimens should be dried as rapidly as pos- 

 sible to preserve their color and general ap- 

 pearance, and the driers should be changed 

 every day for five days; still better results will 

 be obtained by changing them two or three 

 times during the first 24 hours. 



According to Schroeder {/liner. Jour. Phartn. 

 1896, p. 134) heavy gray felt paper saturated 

 with a 3 per cent, solution of oxalic acid and al- 

 lowed to dry, will preserve unchanged the color 

 of the petals, and in most cases the green of the 

 leaves. 



When the plants are thoroughly dried they 

 should be poisoned by applying a nearly satu- 

 rated solution of corrosive sublimate in alcohol 

 with a soft brush, the plants being laid upon a 

 flat dish and afterward placed between driers 

 until the alcohol evaporates. 



Then follows the mounting of the specimens. 

 Sheets of white paper 11 >^ x 17)4^ inches, about 

 30 pounds to the ream of 480 sheets, are best for 

 this purpose. They should be fastened to the 

 sheets either by narrow strips of isinglass plas- 

 ter, or better, directly by means of a plasliquid 

 glue like Le Page's. 



To the right hand lower corner of each sheet 

 should be afl&xed a label something like the fol- 

 lowing, which for the purpose of illustration is 

 written out as it would be if afi&xed to the plant 

 chelidonium : 



Each specimen or all of the same species may 

 be inclosed in a sheet of white paper of less 

 weight than that upon which they are mounted. 



All of the species of the same genus should 

 then be inclosed in a genus cover of heavy ma- 

 nilla paper. 



The name of the genus, with that of the nat- 

 ural order, should be written in a large hand 

 upon the lower left hand corner of the cover 

 next the back. The name of the inclosed 

 species can be written upon the lower right 

 hand corner. The genera can also be number- 

 ed according to "Gray's Manual." 



The herbarium should be preserved in a suit- 

 able receptacle free from dust. This may con- 

 sist of a cabinet with shelves of the proper width 

 and depth for the genus covers to slide in easily 

 or of a number of plain boxes with shelves 4 to 

 6 inches apart, and doors which shut flush. 

 The names of the orders can be pasted upon 

 the shelves or affixed to the edge of the genus 

 board, which contains a list of the genera of 

 the order, and is inserted at its beginning. — 

 Anier. Drug, and Pharm. Rec. 



