StO PRESERVATION O^ 



since his death by the acquisitions of his soit 

 and of its present possessor. 



One great and mortifying impediment to 

 the perfect preservation of an herbarium 

 arises from the attacks of insects. A little 

 beetle called Ptinus Fur is, more especially, 

 the pest of collectors, laying its eggs in the 

 germens or receptacles of flowers, and others 

 of the more solid parts, which are speedily 

 devoured by the maggots when hatched > 

 and by their devastations paper and plants 

 are alike involved in ruin. The most bitter 

 and acrid tribes, as Euphorbia, Gentiana, 

 Primus, the Syngenesious class, and especi- 

 cially Willows, are preferred by these ver- 

 min. The last-mentioned family can scarcely 

 be thoroughly dried before it is devoured* 

 Ferns are scarcely ever attacked, and grasses 

 but seldom. — To remedy this inconvenience 

 I have found a solution of corrosive sublimate 

 of mercury in rectified spirits of wine, about 

 two drams to a pint, with a little camphor, 

 perfectly efficacious. It is easily applied with 

 a camel-hair pencil when the specimens are 

 perfectly dry, not before; and if they are 

 not too tender, it- is best done before they 



