272 



THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



but one simple process, that of immersing them in bottles of a 

 solution prepared for that purpose. There are many of these solu- 

 tions in use for botanical, zoological, and anatomical purposes, but 

 only one or two, I find, can be even moderately depended upon. 

 Most spirits defy nearly all efforts to prevent evaporation, and they 

 extract and destroy the colour of the plants, by which they lose their 

 transparency. On the other hand, most solutions from a combina- 

 tion of chemical salts, become opaque, and form a crystalline deposit 

 round the mouth of the jar, which, from contact with the air, 

 gradually feeds upon the covering of the vessel ; nor are acids 

 always to be depended upon, extracting the colour and more or less 

 destroying the most delicate and deliquescent species, especially if 

 exposed to agitation. Where expense is not studied, one evil is, to a 

 certain extent, remedied by throwing away the solution in which they^ 

 have been preserved for about a month, and which by that time has 

 extracted the colour, then replace it with fresh, and there is not that 

 danger of the liquid being discoloured. A few will be found of 

 such a solid and dry nature as to require no drying, and must be 

 kept in a cabinet, or drawers, as they will not flatten by pressure. 

 We now come to a large bulk of the higher orders, which, although 

 it is not absolutely necessary to keep them in solution, it is looked 

 upon as a laborious and diflBcult task to dry and press them, and 

 when done, the sections, etc., usually taken, are but a humble 

 apology for the whole plant. For these I can recommend the fol- 

 lowing methods as far superior to those in general use : — 



DETING rUNGT FOE THE nEEBARIUlf. 



Procure a wire cage, such as is used by rat-catchers, about 

 twenty-four inches long, twelve wide, and twelve deep, with a shelf 

 of the same material in the centre, or of smaller dimensions, according 

 to the requirements of the collector. Let the wire be sufficiently close 



AVIr.E 1!ASKET. 



to keep out the ordinary flies, but no smaller, as we require a free 

 ventilation ; should the flies still get in, cover with a net sufficiently 

 fine to exclude intruders. Arrange the fungi in rows with stems 

 downwards, resting on strings crossing from side to side, and each 

 free from its neighbour. Let this cage be suspended in the air if 

 possible, as Irom a clothes' line, and in a draughty situation, as a 

 passage between two houses ; a cool, shady spot being preferable. 



