(904] Nature Study — No. 15. 93 



NATURE STUDY-No. XV. 



HOW TO COLLECT AND PRESERVE PLANTS. 

 By W. T. RIacoun, Horticulturist, Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, Ont. 



While Nature Study does not necessarily involve the accumu- 

 lation of natural history specimens for the purpose of forming a 

 herbarium, a collection of insects or of bird skins, the making ot 

 a collection is undoubtedly of great value both as a means of 

 bringing the student into closer contact and more intimate 

 acquaintance with natural objects, and of inducing a continued 

 and well directed study of them. If one decides to make a col- 

 lection, it is of the greatest importance that he begin in the right 

 way. It frequently happens that young people, and adults as well, 

 in their enthusiasm, begin collections ; but, through ignorance of 

 the best methods ot collecting and preserving their specimens, 

 these are improperly made, or, through not knowing the way to 

 preserve them, are soon destroyed by insects, and the collector's 

 enthusiasm is dampened. It is then difficult to get him to start 

 again. 



It was felt by the Council of the Ottawa Field Naturalists' 

 Club that very useful work would be accomplished by giving a 

 demonstration of the best methods of coUectmg and preserving 

 natural history specimens so that anyone who wished to begin 

 a collection might do so in the right way. Accordingly, a 

 special meeting of the Club was held on April 2eth, 1904. and de- 

 monstrations were given by experts in various branches of science. 

 Mr. A. G. Kingston described his methods of observing and 

 identifying birds with a field glass. Dr. Jas. Fletcher spoke on 

 the advantages of the study of Entomology. Dr. H. M. Ami 

 discussed the collecting and preserving of geological specimens. 

 Demonstrations were given of the mounting of plants by Miss 

 Macoun ; of insects, by Mr. A. Gibson and Mr. W. Metcalfe ; in- 

 flating caterpillars, by Mr. C. H. Young ; preparing geological 

 specimens, Mr. Geo. Burland. 



In addition to the addresses and demonstrations already re- 

 ferred to, Prof. ]. Macoun told how to collect, mount, and pre 

 serve botanical specimens, and, in order that as many as possible 

 may get the information thus given by him, the most important 



