ON THE FORMATION OF AN HERBARIUM. 177 



whenever it is possible, obtain the roots, stem, leaves, flower, and 

 fruit of every plant complete. Nothing but practice will enable you 

 to determine the best mode of procedure in all cases ; this is a 

 matter of detail and study. You will find some plants curl up and 

 wither a few minutes after being removed from the soil (this is par- 

 ticularly the case with water plants and some succulent land plants), 

 while others may be neglected for hours without much injury. 

 Having obtained your plant, place it between some pieces of blotting- 

 paper, and put several of the slips of cardboard above and below it. 

 Lay the plant so that it will dry flat and preserve its natural charac- 

 ter ; if too thick in foliage, it will be better to break off some of its 

 branches, for if the leaves lie thick upon each other, it can scarcely 

 ever become a good specimen. Having filled your box with plants, 

 alternating with slips of cardboard and blotting paper, you are at 

 liberty to continue your pilgrimage, and develope all the green hero- 

 ism you may have, or to return home ; at least, as far as we are 

 concerned. 



For completing the drying process, it will be necessary to have a 

 quantity of porous paper, such as good blotting or coarse sugar paper. 

 A few thin pieces of flat wood are also necessary, and some leather 

 straps furnished with buckles. A convenient size for the boards is 

 about sixteen inches by twelve ; we use various sizes ourselves, ac- 

 cording to the sizes of the plants. Let a board be warmed at the 

 fire, and then warm a few pieces of the paper and lay upon it ; lay 

 one plant on this, taking care to place the leaves smooth, and to bend 

 the flower aside, so that the leaves do not touch it, in order that its 

 colour may not be deteriorated by contact. Pile up boards, paper, 

 and plants, in this way, until six or eight, or perhaps a dozen, speci- 

 mens have been so managed ; then strap them round tightly, or pUe a 

 few books or weights upon them to press them, and let them lie in a 

 dry place, where there are no smoky vapours, or fumes that are likely 

 to injure them. If the plants are very moist, and particularly if they 

 are aquatic, they must be tended very carefully ; take them out after 

 three or four hours, and dry the papers well at the fire, and replace 

 them. If they are of a dry nature this need only be performed once 

 a day until they are quite dry. Some plants will be found to have 

 produced and ripened their seed while this drying process has been 

 goiog on: thistles, dandelions, hawkweeds, and other compound flowers, 

 invariably do this, and the beginner will frequently be surprised to 



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