xlviii PrncccdinoH of tin: Botanical Society 



him take what care he will to preserve them ; and that heaths and 

 lir trees lose their leaves. 



If, in spite of all your care, insects should find their way to your 

 specimens, wash them over with henzoline, and tie them up tight in 

 large sheets of paper before returning them to the cabinet. The 

 Times newspaper is very useful for this purpose, but brown paper is 

 supposed to be better. 



In conclusion, whatever difference of opinion there may be as to 

 the best method of preserving your plants, there are some points 

 upon which all experienced collectors will agree ; namely, in recom- 

 mending you, whatever the country you visit, not to hurry over too 

 much ground, but to explore your region thoroughly ; nor to waste 

 your time and labour upon bad specimens, but to reject them at 

 once, and wait till you find better ; and in drying them, to use your 

 paper warm, and plenty of it, and to press hard. 



It may not be out of place to add yet a few words on the season 

 for visiting the Continent. Most botanists begin too late. In the 

 south of Europe, as Greece, Sicily, and Portugal, there is a good 

 deal to be found in March, and something from the very beginning 

 of the year, but the best month is April ; for countries a little 

 further north, such as Dalmatia, Naples, and the Pyrenees, May and 

 June : for the middle of Europe, as the southern provinces of 

 Austria, and the adjoining parts of Hungary, the south of France, 

 and north of Italy, the same months a week or ten days later. In 

 all these there is something to be found all through the spring ; a 

 few things even earlier. Upon the Alps the flowering season varies 

 with the weather to the extent of several weeks. There are some 

 beautiful plants to be collected in sunny spots of the subalpine 

 region as early as February, while the valleys are still deep in snow ; 

 and all through the spring till the end of June the botanist will do 

 weU to avail himself of every spell of fine weather to explore it. 

 For the higher Alps July is usually the best month, as it is also for 

 the north of Europe. 



IV. On a curious for7n of Kohl-Bdbi, from Mr Pollock, Stirling. 

 By Mr John Sadler. 



MISCELLANEOUS COMMUNICATIONS. 



1. Mr Charles Howie, Largo, exhibited a monstrosity in the 

 flowering spike of Plaidago lanceolatu, in which the spike was 

 divided into ten small spikes. 



