94 The Ottawa Naturalist. [July 



points with regard to collecting and preserving, are made the sub- 

 ject of this Nature Study article, and it is hoped that the other 

 addresses which were given will be published also. 



Prof. Macoun said that it was necessary, first of all, to have 

 the desire to make a collection of plants before beginning the 

 work. Unless the student had the desire, little benefit would be 

 derived from it. A good herbarium was a proof that there had 

 been a desire. In collecting plants, it is not very important what 

 they are carried in while out in the field, providing they do not 

 wilt before pressing. The lack of a tin case should not deter one 

 from getting specimens, as a basket answers the purpose very 

 well ; but the best practice is to put the plants when collected into 

 the plant press at once. A trowel or a strong knife are con- 

 venient for digging up the plants ; but these again are not really 

 indispensable, as strong fingers will dig up almost any specimen. 

 A good plant press is a necessity, and it should be light and 

 strong. A very strong press is made with two boards, each made 

 of three pieces of wood nailed together. Each piece is very thin, 

 but great strength is obtained by having the middle p'ece with 

 the grain crosswise. Joined in this way the boards will stand all 

 the pressure they will get without breaking. When taken to the 

 field, the boards may be kept in place by means of a stout shawl 

 strap, by which also sufficient pressure can be given. If possible, 

 there should be two extra boards at home made of ordinary inch 

 wood, between which the plants may be put the day after they are 

 collected, aad pressed by means of a strong strap or some heavy 

 weight. When one is going on a collecting trip, enough papers 

 should be put in the press for all the specimens that are likely to 

 be obtained ; but, the lighter the press, the better. Newspapers 

 cut to about the size of the press or a little smaller and of a single 

 thickness of paper are very convenient for putting the plants on, 

 and filter paper or blotting paper for covering the specimen and 

 to absorb the moisture. 



When one is making a collection, it is well to try and obtain 

 a typical and perfect plant of the species, as, once an inferior speci- 

 men is dried and mounted, one is not likely to get a better one, 

 and perfect specimens add very much to the attractiveness and 

 value of a herbarium. It is sometimes puzzling to the beginner 



