THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 307 



all earofnl work a {lissecting microscope is necessary. This is not an 

 expensive instrnnient, the prices ranging- from $2.50 to $50. It is 

 invaluable for examining not only floral parts but also diseased plants 

 and insects. Complete laboratory equipments of glass slides, cover 

 glasses, dissecting needles, forceps, a camels-hair brush and small 

 magnifying glass can be obtained from any laboratory supi)]y house 

 for between $2 and $8. This laboratory equipment is a very valuable 

 addition to any horticultural or agricultural office. It is impossible 

 to do good work witliout it. 



Herbarium Sheets. — Paper for the final mounting of specimens 

 should be white glazed bristol board, standard size, 15"x 1V\ Covers 

 should be of heavy manila papei-, large enough so that when folded 

 they will be 15:|"x llj" or a fraction larger than the specimen sheet. 



If it is not the intention of the collector to mount his specimens a 

 very satisfactory white paper can be obtained from the local news 

 dealers at a small cost. These papers should be double width and 

 should be folded to receive the specimens. In either case the manila 

 paper should be used for the outer cover. 



Labels. — These are of varying design and ai"e filled out in varying 

 degrees of detail. In general a good label shouhl convey flie follow- 

 ing infoirmation : 1. Family, genus, species, variety (names to be deter- 

 mined by collector or some (me for him at a later date) ; 2. Connnou 

 name of plant as known in its locality; 3. Locality; 4. Date; 5. Kind 

 of soil, as woods, I'ocks, meadows, marsh, sand, etc; 6. Approximate 

 elevation of })lace, and foothill or plain; 7. Notes: (the uses, char- 

 acters, color of flowers, or other information not directly revealed 

 by the specimen) ; 8. Collector's name; 9. Name of the person deter- 

 mining the scientific name. 



If a notebook is carried it is often a good plan to simply number 

 each specimen and file data in the notebook after the corresponding 

 number. These numbers should never leave the plant until the data 

 is transcribed and ready to attach. A plant is not worth space in 

 a herbarium without reliable data as to time and place of collection. 



The instructions regarding labels apply also to plants or insects 

 sent in for identification. Frequently two species will look very 

 much alike, but will be found in different localities. This is espe- 

 cially true of insects. It is very difficult — often impossible — to give 

 good advice when details regarding locality, etc., are inadequate. 



The following is an extract from Bulletin 39 of the Smithsonian 

 Institute by F. H. Knowlton on collecting plants : 



"It is an art to collect plants properly. As regards their col- 

 lection, plants may be divided into two general classes — her- 

 baceous and shrubby plants. All herbs of modern size and 

 height should be collected entire. It is not sufficient to break 

 or cut them off at such a point on the stem as will insure a 

 specimen of the proper length. Every part of a plant has a 

 character of its own and one which should be represented in 

 the collection. The leaves of most herbs vary in form at different 

 points on the stem, and the same is generally true of the degree 

 of pubescence, which is a character of the first importance. Even 

 the dead leaves about the base are distinctive and should never 

 be torn off. If radical leaves exist, they should be collected with 



