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Some Practical Hints relative to the Material required for a 

 Botanical Expedition. By J. E. T. Aitchisox, C.I.E., 

 M.D, F.E.S., &c. 



(Read Sth May 1890.) 



After much experience in making Botanical Collections, I 

 have come to the conclusion that it is the best plan to take 

 all the material that is likely ta be required for an expedi- 

 tion with one, and on no account to depend upon obtaining 

 any of it in the countries likely to be traversed. The cost 

 of carrying all one's own material, ready packed, to the locality 

 where it is proposed to commence work, is not to be compared 

 with the wear and tear of life upon finding that what you 

 require cannci. be obtained at the locality you depended on. 



The whole of the requisite material should be made up 

 in packages of 40 lbs. each. The reason for this is, that 

 such a \vvjight can be carried by one man in the most hilly 

 and difficult district likely to be traversed, and I personally 

 have not as yet come across a carrier who has objected to 

 convey a parcel of that weight for an ordinary march of 

 twelve miles. 



The contents of a 40 lb. or primary package would no 

 doubt depend much upon the climate to be botanized in. 

 Where I have botanized it has been what is usually con- 

 sidered a dry country, \dz., iSTorth "West India, the Himalayas 

 west of Simla, Ladak, Kashmir, the Punjab, Baluchistan, 

 Afghanistan, and as far north as Meshad in Persia. I should 

 consider Europe, Xorthern Africa, Arabia, Persia, and all the 

 country to the north of these, as belonging to a dry chmate ; 

 collecting in the Himalayas to the east of Simla, in Bengal, 

 Central India, Bombay, and all to the south of these as a 

 wet country, that requires other appliances in which I am 

 not experienced. Eor a dry country good stout blotting- 

 paper, with sheets of miU-board and wooden boards, is all 

 that is required. The best paper for the purpose that I 

 have as yet met with is the ordinary paper made in the 

 Punjab Jails for native use.* This is hand-made paper, the 

 sheets of which are put upon walls to dry. These sheets, 

 taken off the walls as they dry, without having had any pres- 



* As per sample attached. 



