78 THE COLLECTING AND STUDY OF WILLOWS. 



troublesome with the higher numbers, the same numbers can be 

 repeated when the locaUties are distinct. To avoid confusion in 

 the vascuhun, the collector should provide himself with slips of 

 paper (3 or 4 inches long), with a slit cut in each. On these the 

 number of the bush and indications of its situation are written, and 

 then the specimens thrust through the slit and placed in the 

 vasculum. On reaching home, the number and other particulars 

 of each bush must be entered in the note-book, and the permanent 

 or note-book number (Arabic figures) placed opposite it. Then by 

 means of small pieces of paper attach to each specimen its perma- 

 nent number. In this way all risk of mixing specimens is reduced 

 to a minimum. The permanent numbers of course must not — 

 unlike the tree-marks — be used for more than one bush. 



Having attached to each example its number, any particulars 

 which can be seen more readily in the fresh than in the dried plant 

 may be entered in the note-book. These should include the colour 

 of the leaves, twigs, stigmas, and anthers ; the nature of the 

 filaments — whether free or more or less combined — and pubescence, 

 if any, on them ; shape of the nectary ; style of the venation of the 

 leaves, whether raised or impressed, &c. The specimens should be 

 very carefully dried, and subjected to as much pressure as will keep 

 the leaves from wriukling, but not so much as to crush the catkins 

 altogether. The leaves should be so arranged that the underside 

 of some of them — both the old, or lower, and the younger, or upper 

 — be shown. 



The periods of growth when specimens should be taken is 

 important. Male catkins should not be too old, but should be in 

 full flower, and some with the pollen shed, so as to show the colour 

 of the empty anthers. Female catkins should neither be too young 

 nor too old, and should illustrate the condition of the fully-developed 

 stigmas. When it is possible, specimens in fruit should also be 

 obtained, but not too old, as burst capsules are comparatively 

 useless. 



The leaves should not be taken till they have arrived at maturity, 

 and not, as a general rule, before the middle of August. Young 

 leaf-specimens are sometimes useful as supplementary examples. 

 It is important, in taking leaf-specimens, to secure side-branches as 

 well as shoots, since the character of the leaves on these is often 

 different. 



In collecting Willows every bush should be examined, not only 

 when in flower, but when in leaf, and, if there is the least doubt 

 about the species, si^ecimens taken. Where more than one species 

 grows together, a sharp look-out should be kept for hj^brids, but 

 hybrid forms occasionally occur at some distance from either of 

 their parents. This may happen by the transmission of the seeds 

 by wind or water, or by the parent bush, cross-fertilized by insect- 

 agency, having died out. In looking for hybrids it must be remem- 

 bered that frequently they do not show exactly intermediate charac- 

 ters, but often bear a close resemblance to one or other of the 

 parent species. Such forms can be detected only by careful study, 

 and an intimate acquaintance with specific characters. 



