PRESERVATION FOR THE HERBARIUM. 17 



against intestinal worms ; their properties being bitter and 

 astringent. Another native Fern, the Koyai Fern, is much 

 used as a rustic vulnerary and as an application to sprains 

 or bruises. The Maidenhair is employed in the form of 

 Capillaire, which is prepared by pouring boiling syrup over 

 the fronds, and flavouring the infusion with orange flowers. 

 This preparation is considered pectoral, though, if too strong, 

 it is said to be emetic. The common Adder's-tongue is 

 gathered by country-people for the preparation of adder's- 

 spear ointment, which is a popular remedy for recent 

 wounds. 



Both the common Bracken and the Male Fern abound in 

 alkali, which is applied to various economic uses, as the 

 manufacture of soap and glass. From their astringency they 

 are employed sometimes in the dressing of leather, &c. 

 These species have also been used in the preparation of beer. 



Ferns are amongst the best of all plants for preservation, 

 in the dried state, in the form of an herbarium ; for, in addi- 

 tion to their elegant appearance when nicely arranged on 

 sheets of white paper, they are less liable than most plants 

 to the attacks of the destructive pests in the shape of insects, 

 which commit great havoc among dried plants in general. 



The plants should be dried quickly, under moderately 

 heavy pressure, among sheets of absorbent paper, which 

 must be replaced daily by dried sheets as long as the plants 

 continue to give out moisture. The thicker the bulk of 

 paper placed between the specimens whilst under pressure, 

 the better. Two or three changes will generally be suffi- 

 cient, if the substituted sheets be in each case perfectly dry. 



The smaller growing kinds should be gathered, if possible, 

 in the tufts as they grow, preserving the whole mass of 

 fronds, with the stem and roots, the fronds being spread out 

 in an easy and graceful form, and as far as possible kept 

 quite flat. If entire tufts cannot be obtained, and single 

 fronds have to be substituted, they should be taken quite to 

 the base, and must be removed from the stem with care, so 

 that the scales, or hairs, or farinose powder, which may be 

 nt on the stalk, may be preserved equaDy with the 



Of larger-growing species, single fronds only are manage- 

 able, and these, when of larger size than the folios in which 

 the specimens are to be kept, must be folded to somewhat 

 less than the length of the papers, whilst yet fresh. Of the 

 gigantic species, portions only of the fronds, corresponding 

 in size with the paper to be used, can be preserved ; but all 



B 



