go4j Nature Study — No. 16. 109 



NATURE STUDY— No. XVI. 



How TO MOUNT Plants AND complete the Herb.^rium — Practical 

 Results from the Study of Plants, 



W. T. M.\couNj Horticulturist, Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, Ont. 



In the July number ot The naturalist (Nature Study — No. XV) 

 an attempt was made to describe the best methods of collecting- 

 and preserving plants. In the following pages the way to mount 

 plants is described, as, even if the specimens are well preserved, 

 they will be difficult to handle unless they are property mounted on 

 convenient sheets. A few suggestions are also given for the com- 

 pletion of the herbarium, and reference is made to the practical re- 

 sults which may be obtained from the study of plants. 



There is considerable arr in the mounting of plants, and much 

 individual taste may be shown. Plants should not, however, be 

 mounted with the main purpose of making them look attractive on 

 the paper. Where possible, flower, fruit and root should be shown 

 on the one sheet of paper, but never more than one species; and, 

 if the flower only is obtained the first year, space should, if 

 possible, be left for the fruiting plant. Another important point to 

 be taken into consideration, is the way the plants w^ill lie when piled 

 together. If the roots are always put at the bottom of the sheets, 

 the pile will not be level, but by placing the specimens now on one 

 side and then on the other, or by mounting the specimens in 

 various places on the sheet and, when the plant is large, having 

 the roots sometimes come at the top of the sheet, the pile may be 

 kept level, which will make the collection much easier to handle. 

 The standard size of mounting paper is 111/3x16^ inches; but a 

 more economical use of paper may be made by having it 11x16 

 inches, as, at this size, orie large sheet of paper will just make four 

 sheets ot mounting paper. There are many grades of white paper, 

 and, if the collector can afford it, it is wise to get it good, the kind 

 known as Bristol-board being very satisfactory. Good mounting 

 paper may be obtained from Mr. F. W. Hodson, Dominion Live 

 Stock Commissioner, Ottawa, at 50 cents per hundred sheets. 

 With experience, plants can be mounted quickly and neatly; but, 

 when beginning this work, the greatest care should be taken, as 



