DIRECTIONS EOE COLLECTING AND 

 PRESERVING PLANTS. 



The following is mainly a reprint of " Directions for Collecting 

 and Preserving Plants in Foreign Countries for a Herbarium," by 

 Robert Brown, with a few minor suggestions interpolated in square 

 brackets, and a supplementary section on tlie lower j^lants requiring 

 special treatment. Messrs. H. and J. Groves have prepared the 

 part dealing with Characese, and Mr. Edmund Grove has written 

 the special directions with reference to Diatoms. 



Directions for Collecting and Preserving Plants 

 FOR A Herbarium. 



This is a much simpler process than is generally imagined by those 

 unpractised in it, and travelers have been often deterred from 

 collecting specimens by the time and trouble required for preparing 

 them in the way that has by many been recommended. 



The chief circumstances to be attended to are, to preserve specimens 



of plants in such a manner that the moisture may be quickly absorbed, 



the colours as much as possible preserved, and such a degree of 



"pressure given to them as that they may not curl up in the act of 



drying. 



For this purpose let a quantity of separate sheets of paper be 

 obtained of a folio size.* Common brown paper is upon the whole 

 the best, except for the very delicate kinds, which require paper of 

 a smoother and somewhat more absorbent texture. Blotting-paper, 

 however, especially in warmer climates, would absorb the moisture 



[* The size of British Museum Herbarium paper is ITg inches by 11^. Drying- 

 paper and presses of a corresponding size should be used, and specimens should 

 be disposed so as not to exceed these limits. Applications for a special drying- 

 paper should be made to the Keeper of Botany by travellers in little-known 

 countries.] 



123 



