32 CIKCULAR NO. 126, BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY. 



of the top of the plant about 15 inches long should be collected, 

 together with leaves from the mitldle or base of the stem, showing 

 the maximum size and any variation in shape. If the root is bulbous 

 or thick and fleshy it should be split in the middle, and if necessary 

 to further reduce the thickness (which preferably should not be over 

 one-fourth of an inch) the inner portion may be scooped out with a 

 knife. All dirt should be removed from the roots and the specimen 

 should be laid out smoothly in one of the foldei-s and placed under 

 the flaps on the side of the portfolio reserved for this purpose. 



Woody plants. — A branch from a woody specimen bearing leaves 

 and flowers, or fruit when obtainable, should be about 12 to 15 inches 

 long. Sterile shoots and suckers bearing leaves should be collected 

 when the leaves differ from those of the flowering branches. 



Aquatic plants. — Some aquatic plants will stick to the thin drying 

 sheets so that they can not be removed without injuring the speci- 

 men. These should be placed in clean water and floated out on a 

 piece of clean white paper that can finally be attached to the mount- 

 ing sheet, placed in one of the thin driers, and the plant covered with 

 a piece of the finest mesh white cheesecloth or unbleached cotton 

 cloth. When dry this can with care be peeled off without injuring 

 the specimen. 



Succulent plants. — Some plants of the orpine family are very diffi- 

 cult to dry perfectl}^ under ordinary conditions, and after they are 

 apparently dried they have been known during damp weather to 

 send out shoots while in the herbarium. This may be prevented by 

 immersing the plant for a few seconds in boUing water to kill the 

 tissues before it is put in the press. Fleshy plants of the cactus 

 family may be treated in the same way if the joints are to be pre- 

 served in boxes. Excellent specimens are also made by splitting 

 the joints laterally, scraping out the inside, and pressing the halves. 



Seed. — Small quantities of seed may be collected m strong manfla 

 envelopes. For larger quantities, bags made from cheesecloth or 

 cheap cotton cloth may be used. It is very desirable in collectmg 

 seed that a herbarium specunen from the same plant as the seed be 

 collected to assist in a correct identification, the seed and specimens 

 being given the same number as soon as collected. If possible the 

 specimen should be preserved in some herbarium where it can be 

 consulted should any question arise as to the identification of the 

 seed. 



Pressing and drying. — Upon returning from a collectmg trip, the 

 plants in the folded sheets should be put in press as soon as possible. 

 They will, however, i-emain in very good condition in the portfolio 

 as long as 12 or 18 hours. Two driers should be placed between the 



[Cir. 126] 



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