32 ERYTHEA. 



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individual can manage properly; for a local collection with- 

 out plants for comparison from other districts is far from 

 complete. The making of an herbarium that should contain 

 all the forms of all the plants of California would entail more 

 time and labor than the leisure hours of one individual 

 would be likely to admit of. However I still believe that the 

 collecting of specimens is the best way to begin a thorough 

 knowledge of plants; and is certainly the best preparation 

 for any systematic work- 



If specimens are collected they shoald be the best possible, 

 for the better the specimens the more there is to be learnt about 

 them. The ability to prepare good specimens can only be 

 acquired by trial and experience, but the relation of some of 

 my mistakes and misfortunes may possibly have some value. 

 First of alLI should advise any one who intends to make an 

 herbarium to collect steadily for one year, then to gather all 

 his specimens in a common pile and set fire to it. This latter 

 procedure will prove a great economy. A poor specimen 

 takes up just as much time and space as a good one, and is of 

 comparatively little value. The first year's collection is sure 

 to be of this character, and if kept will be a constant source of 

 trouble and annoyance; and having served to show plainly how 

 not to collect plants it has outlived its usefulness and had 

 better be cremated. 



One of the worst mistakes that I made in collecting: was 



that of neglecting to wash the roots of my specimens. It is 

 nearly always possible to wash them, especially if a box or 

 bag be carried as well as a portfolio. The plants, if the 

 flowers are not too delicate, can be placed temporarily in the 

 box until a convenient place for washing is found. A 

 thoroughly washed specimen Avill dry quicker and look 

 infinitely better than one which has simply had the earth 

 shaken from its roots. Many plants that grow in saline soils 

 or near the sea are so covered with salt that it is almost 

 imposible to dry them in the ordinary way; such plants for 

 instance as Atriplex Californica, the Abr^oiiias, etc. Beauti- 

 ful specimens of these can be made however if a stream of 



