ON THE CULTURE OF THE IRIS BICOLOR. 131 



fragments so preserved, being well adapted for subsequent analysis, 

 will often prevent the specimen itself from being pulled in pieces. 

 The best size for the paper appears, by experience, to be 10f inches 

 by 16i. Linnaeus used a size resembling our foolscap, but it is 

 much too small; and a few employ paper Hi inches by 181, but 

 that is larger than is necessary, and much too expensive. In ana- 

 lysing dried specimens, the flowers or fruits should always be 

 softened in boiling water; this renders all the parts pliable, and 

 often restores them to their original position. In arranging spe- 

 cimens when thus prepared, every species of the same genus should 

 be put into a wrapper, formed of a whole sheet of paper, and marked 

 at the lower left corner with the name of the genus. The genera 

 should then be put together, according to their natural orders. To 

 preserve plants against the depredations of insects, by which, espe- 

 cially the little Anobium castaneum, they are apt to be much infested, 

 it has been recommended to wash each specimen with a solution of 

 corrosive sublimate, in camphorated spirits of wine ; but, indepen- 

 dently of this being a doubtful mode of preservation, it is expensive, 

 and in large collections extremely troublesome. I have found that 

 suspending little open paper bags filled with camphor, in the inside 

 of the doors of my cabinets, is a far more simple and a most effectual 

 protection. It is true that camphor will not drive away the larvae 

 that may be carried into the herbarium in fresh specimens ; but the 

 moment they become perfect insects, they emit the cases without 

 leaving any eggs behind them." 



ARTICLE VI. 



ON THE CULTURE OF THE IRIS BICOLOR. 



BY FLORA. 



Being anxious to assist in spreading information, and observing that 

 recently some notice has been made of Spanish and Persian Irises, lam 

 induced to trouble you with a few remarks on the culture of the Iris 

 bicolor. I have been repeatedly asked how I manage my plants ; 

 even during this spring three eminent amateurs have inquired con- 

 cerning the treatment of this and other plants. Not having time to 

 answer every separate question of this sort, I take this opportunity 

 of stating how your readers may certainly succeed as respects this 



