901 



ed in some degree to cool down my botanical enthusiasm. I search- 

 ed about, as well as I could under the circumstances, for Orobus 

 niger, but without success, and in vain looked for the "wet rocks above 

 the castle," where the Timmia grows. In fact, by the time the foot 

 of the Den was reached, I was as wet as if I had come down the Reeky 

 Linn and swam the Isla all the way. But my vasculum had been 

 well filled, and moreover I had the consolation of having chivalrously 

 suffered in a noble cause, — even in the cause of the bright and beau- 

 tiful Lady Flora. William Gardiner. 



Dundee, February 7, 1844. 



Art. CCIII. — Varieties. 



447. Method of arranging the Cryptogamia in a Herbarium. 

 Many excellent methods of collecting and arranging herbaria have 

 appeared in the pages of ' The Phytologist,' but as these all relate to 

 the Phaenogamous plants, I trust the following hints respecting the 

 Cryptogamic tribes — Musci, Hepaticas and Lichenes, may prove in- 

 teresting to some of your readers. The more general mode of forming 

 and arranging herbaria for mosses &c. seems to be that of glueing the 

 specimens to the paper, taking care that this shall be of a sufficient 

 transparency and whiteness, that the plant may be examined on hold- 

 ing it up to the light. Now this method is attended with much in- 

 convenience ; the different parts of these tribes are extremely minute, 

 and require very careful investigation, the previous application of wa- 

 ter is also absolutely necessary to most or all species. Can this be 

 done to a specimen fastened on the paper, without detriment to its 

 texture ; and supposing water to be applied, may not the microscope 

 disclose perhaps the most essential parts buried in a mass of glue ? 

 The remedy is very simple. Take half a sheet of stout foolscaj), and 

 divide this into quarters, which will be suited for the larger mosses. 

 Again, these quarters halved will form another very convenient size. 

 The half sheets divided into thirds, and these halved, will constitute a 

 most useful size for the genera Hypnum, Bryum, &c. Other forms 

 may be made according to the taste and wants of the collector. Now 

 fold each of these divisions lengthways, so that the under side shall 

 appear three-eighths of an inch beyond the upper : turn this border 

 upon the upper edge, and do likewise with the two ends of the folded 

 paper, you will then have a case somewhat similar to those in which 

 a nurseryman encloses seeds for sale. These cases are to be glued to 



