8 ON COLLECTING PLANTS IN FOKE1GN COUNTRIES. 



in pyroligneous acid, diluted in the proportion of eight parts of 

 water to one of the concentrated acid. In all cases the separate 

 fruits whether dried or preserved in a fluid, should have a num- 

 ber attached to them, referring to the flowering specimen of the 

 plant. Seeds, whether for examination, or intended to be sown, 

 should be gathered perfectly ripe, be put hi brown paper bags, 

 and kept dry in a box. 



With the specimens of the fruits and seeds, there should be 

 slips of paper, on which are to be written the uses, native name, 

 and general appearance of the plants, whether herbaceous, a 

 shrub, or tree, its sensible qualities, and the colour and form of 

 the flowers ; its situation, if dry, or damp, the nature of the soil, 

 the elevation above the level of the sea, and the date when ga- 

 thered. 



As soon as a sufficient number of specimens are collected, no 

 time should be lost in transporting them to their place of desti- 

 nation, since in warm climates especially they are liable to the 

 attacks of insects. These attacks, which are often completely 

 destructive of the specimens, may in many cases be prevented 

 by pitching the boxes, and by putting in them, or in each parcel, 

 cotton dipped in petrolium, spirits of turpentine, or small pieces 

 of camphor, and the captain of the vessel should be particularly 

 requested to keep them in a dry or airy part of the ship. 



Specimens of the woods of from six to eight inches in length, 

 the entire round of the trunk or branch of small, and segments 

 from centre to circumference of the larger kinds, in both cases, 

 with the bark, should also be preserved, not only of the more 

 remarkable trees, but also of the woody climbers, which often 

 exhibit peculiarities of structure highly interesting to the bo- 

 tanist. When specimens of woods are preserved, they should 

 be marked with numbers, corresponding with the flowering 

 branches of the tree in the collection of specimens ; and when 

 flowers cannot be obtained, a small branch with leaves or fruits 

 should always be taken. 



Gums, resins, and other remarkable products should also be 

 collected, their uses, if known, noted, and reference made by. 

 numbers to the plants they belong to. 



Useful and ornamental plants would of course form the most 

 important part of such collections ; but even the weeds of foreign 

 ai.d little known countries, the grasses ferns, mosses, lichens. 



