372 PHYTOGKAPHY. 



class. When well stocked with paper, it is of almost unlimited 

 capacity ; and most plants of delicate texture (as many of the 

 smaller aquatics, and those with fugacious or delicate corollas) 

 need to be consigned directly to the paper in which they are to 

 be pressed, and to be kept meanwhile under some pressure. 



777. The Vasculum is very useful for holding plants that are 

 to be examined fresh, and for thick roots, large fruits, &c. It 

 is made of tin, and should be of oval-cylindrical shape, about 17 

 inches long and 4 by 6 inches wide, and provided with a light 

 strap to throw over the shoulder. The lid opens nearly the 

 whole length of one of the flat sides (15 by 4 inches, with one 

 fourth inch lap), is made to fit as close as possible, and fastens 

 by a simple spring catch. When no portfolio is used, a larger box 

 ma}* be required. Plants may be kept fresh in such a box for 

 many days. For a several-da3's excursion, when it is desirable to 

 bring home a large number of fresh plants, a tin chest, made some- 

 what after the pattern of an old-fashioned trunk, will be found 

 very convenient. It should be about 21 inches long, 10 inches 

 wide, and 10 inches high to the top of the convex and hinged 

 lid, which forms the whole top, and to which a handle is fitted. 



778. A good form of Portfolio is made of two pieces of binder's 

 board covered with enamel cloth, and fastening together with two 

 long straps with buckles. Handles similar to those on a carpet- 

 bag may be attached for carrying. The usual size of portfolio 

 is 18 by 12 inches, but 16 by ll inches may be better, as 

 there would then be little danger of making specimens of too 

 great length for the herbarium. (784.) Or the back may be of 

 soft leather, an inch or so in width, and a light strap and buckle 

 at the front edge and at each end. The portfolio should contain 

 a good quantity of folded sheets of thin unsized paper, similar 

 to grocer's tea-paper, and of a size only a little smaller than the 

 sides of the portfolio. Very thin manilla paper, or what is so 

 called, is excellent for this purpose, being sufficiently bibulous 

 and rather strong. 



779. The specimens as soon as gathered should be laid neatly 

 in these folded sheets (called specimen sheets) , and kept under a 

 moderate pressure in the portfolio. The sheets with the spec- 

 imens are afterwards transferred to the home press, but the 

 specimens should be left continuously in their sheets through all 

 the changing of driers, until cured. Indeed, the specimens may 

 well remain in the sheets after drying, until wanted for mounting 

 or for exchanging. For fine specimens, the use of this spectrum 

 paper is very important. Many plants are so extremely delicate 

 and sensitive that they will not bear the least Ijamlling without 



