AND GENERAL HORTICULTURE. 



189 



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the specimen is inordinately thick, so that a 

 vacuum would be caused if the wadding were 

 not there. A stout board at the top completes 

 the preparations. A weight of several pounds 

 more or less, according to the height of the 

 pile, should be placed on top for twenty-four 

 hours, when on examination the specimens 

 will be found to be quite flat but limp and full 

 of moisture. Now shift them into blotting 

 paper, with tissue paper where very tender, 

 and newspapers between each as before. In 

 a day or two the specimens should have a 

 second shift, all the papers used being perfectly 

 dry and warm. A third and fourth shift into 

 dry and warm papers, will ordinarily suflBce 

 to dry the specimens thoroughly, and fix the 

 colors. It is no advantage to use warm 

 papers for the commencing process, which is 

 merely one of compression. Drying rarely 

 commences for at least two days, and the 

 more rapidly this is accomplished the better 

 the success in retaining the colors. 



When perfectly dry, the specimens should 

 be laid out upon half sheets of tolerably stiff 

 paper, and the half sheets be placed within a 

 whole sheet. If the specimens are likely to 

 be often handled and examined, it is desirable 

 they should be mounted. This is best accom- 

 plished by glueing bodily on the sheet with 

 white glue, or by transverse strips of gummed 

 paper. Sometimes it is preferable to keep the 

 specimens loose. Inferior ones can then be 

 superseded by better; the venation of the 

 leaves can be scrutinized when there is need, 

 and a vast amount of labor saved. When 

 mounted, the name, date, and locality where 

 gathered, should be written on the contain- 

 ing paper ; if kept loose, the same particulars 

 should be stated on a ticket and the ticket 

 attached to the specimen. As soon as a num- 

 ber are got together, they should be sorted, 

 according to their natural orders, a sheet 

 being devoted to every order, with its name 

 in bold writing on the outside. When the 

 orders themselves become well illustrated, 

 the genera should be isolated in a similar 

 manner, and when a genus becomes well illus- 

 trated the particular species should have sep- 

 arate sheets. By this means continual ex- 

 pansion is provided for. " There is a place 

 for everj'thing, and everything in its place." 

 The nomenelatui'e and arrangement should be 

 according to some published catalogue, the 

 newer the better. Finally the sheets of spec- 

 imens should be deposited in a suitable cabi- 

 net, or they maj' be wrapped in brown paper, 

 marked outside as to the contents. This pre- 

 serves them from dust, which is often a sad 

 blemish to an Herbarium, where cleanliness 

 ranks next to order and accuracy. 



Everj'thing that is interesting in economic 

 botany, useful in medicine, employed in art 

 or science, curious in structure, or in any 

 way identified with floriculture, is worthy of 

 preservation. The object of the Herbarium 

 is to illustrate the plant in the most perfect 

 manner possible. Such plants accordingly as 

 grasses and ferns, should be procured at dif- 

 ferent stages. Cotyledons, root leaves, 

 sprays showing plumules, others showing 

 stipules; autumnal foliage, leaves bearing 

 parasitic fungi, should all be treated as though 

 they were flowers. Seed-pods likewise should 

 be introduced and packets of ripe seed should 

 be kept in envelopes. Tendril-bearing plants, 



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such as the Vetch, and twiners like the Hop, 

 should be got while clinging to their prop, 

 and the two be dried together. Thus we see 

 the mode of life as well as the organs. Pro- 

 ducts also should be introduced, such as lace 

 bark, and the bark of the paper Birch, rice 

 paper, Brousonettia cloth, or anything that 

 lies flat, and helps to interpret the plants. 

 Never be content, except where unavoidable, 

 with a fragment. Every specimen should be 

 large and handsome, coextensive with the 

 room given by the paper. Fragments, of 

 course, are better than nothing, but they 

 should be regarded as only specimens pro tern. 

 An Herbarium, therefore, is a life-long ex- 

 ercise in everything implied, in order and 

 neatness, accuracy of scientific observation 

 and discrimination, and in exact and logical 

 mental work. It is an unfailing amusement ; 

 it is profoundly educational alike to one's 

 self, and to others ; it is a commentary on 

 one's tastes, and a history of experience. 



Herbe'rtia. Named after Dr. Herbert, Dean of 

 Manchester, a distinguished investigator of 

 bulbous plants. Nat. Ord. Iridacem. 



Very pretty species from South America, 

 nearly hardy, requiring only the pi'otection of 

 the frame. It does well grown in pots. The 

 flowers resemble the Iris, and ai'e of various 

 colors, blue and white predominating. Prop- 

 agated by offsets. Introduced in 1830. 



Herb Christopher. ActcBa spicata, and Osmunda 

 regalis. 



Herb of Grace, or Herb of Repentance. Ruta 

 graveolens. 



Herb Robert. Geranium Robertianum. 



Herbs. In eveiy garden a piece of ground 

 should be specially devoted to Herbs, more 

 especially to those of which only a few plants 

 need be kept. Part of the space should also 

 be devoted to the annual sorts in preference 

 to growing them in various parts of the gar- 

 den. It is also just the place for the orderly 

 and systematic culture of all small salading, 

 such as Mustard and Cress, a constant success- 

 ion of young Onions, a row of Chives, and the 

 cultivation of Radishes, etc., throughout the 

 season. Parsley requires special attention, as 

 it is always of great importance for garnishing. 

 The following are among the most useful 

 Herbs in cultivation for flavoring purposes : 

 Angelica, Sweet Basil, Borage, Burnet, Car- 

 away, Anise, Chervil, Chives, Coriander, Dill, 

 Fennel, Horehound, Lavender, Rosemary, 

 Sweet Marjoram, Mint, Parsley, Pennj'royal, 

 Rue, Sage, Summer and Winter Savory, Tar- 

 ragon, Thyme, and Wormwood. 



Hercules Club. Aralia spinosa, and Xantho- 

 xylum Clava-Hercules. 



Herd's Grass. The New England name of 

 Phleum pratense. 



In Pennsylvania Agrostis vulgaris is com- 

 monly called Herd's Grass. 



Herma'nnia. Named for Paul Hermann, at 

 one time Professor of Botany at Leyden. An 

 extensive genus of SterculiacecB, including 

 about eighty species of twiggy undershrubs, 

 having the stems and leaves more or less 

 clothed with starry hairs. The pretty nodding, 

 sometimes sweet scented, flowers, are pale 

 j^ellow, orange, or reddish-colored, disposed 

 in dense clusters, or loose racemes or panicles 

 at the ends of the twigs. Three of the species 



