OS THE EUPHORBIA SPI.ENDENS. 103 



the finest and the purest sand, keep it in an oven, or some other very 

 dry place. Having my specimens ready, I get some, tumhler glasses, 

 cups.'or any other utensil, according to the size of the specimen. I place 

 some of the sand in the hottom of the vessel, then take the specimen 

 and place it in the vessel, in the manner it grew, holding it with one 

 hand, and with the other gently fill up the vessel with sand, shaking 

 it continually, that the sand may press the plant closely on every side. 

 They are then kept in a warm, but not hot, oven for about a fortnight 

 or three weeks, when they are usually perfectly dry. In this manner 

 the most delicate plants, such as Gentiana, Drosera, Saxifraga, 

 Sedums, &c, are preserved in the exact form in which they grew, with 

 the corolla, calyx, stamens and pistils uninjured and entire. The 

 success of this method depends entirely on the dry state of the sand, 

 as the least damp spoils all. I was first induced to try this plan on 

 wishing to preserve a plant of Sarracennia in its curious natural form, 

 and I succeeded beyond my expectations. 



This plan has been objected to in consequence of the room the 

 specimens require after drying. The mode I practise is, to take 

 a large sheet of pasteboard (white) ; divide it into compartments by 

 transverse slips of the same, being neatly pasted on, so that when 

 finished the whole resembles a tulip box : place it to stand on edge, 

 and take my specimens, placing one or more, according to size, in 

 each compartment ; I then write the name on a small slip of card 

 paper, pasted so as to stand upright, at the bottom of each division, 

 and the whole is covered with glass in a neat manner; and I beg to 

 assure the readers of the Cabinet, that the neatness and beauty of 

 such a case of rare and curious plants amply repays the labour of 

 their construction. Should this meet with the Editor's approbation, 

 I shall refer to the subject again, and forward another communi- 

 cation. 



[We shall feel much obliged to our Correspondent for the promised 

 favour. — Conductor.] 



ARTICLE VI. 



ON THE EUPHORBIA SPLENDENS. 



BY A SUBSCRIBED TO TIIK FI.ORICILTURAL CABINET FROM THE BEGINNING. 



1 1- we take a retrospect of the plants that have been introduced into 

 the stoves of Great Britain within the last few years, not one has pre- 



