52 THREE KINGDOMS. 



Small plants may be directly immersed in the fluid, con- 

 tained for a time in a shallow pan. 



Prevention is better than cure. Keep the bugs out in 

 1he first place. Cases cannot be too tight. Mr. Sereno 

 Watson tells us that he would rather rely on a tight case 

 than on the poison itself. Inquire always whether plants 

 received in exchange have been properly poisoned. Quar- 

 antine them until you are sure. If, despite all precau- 

 tions, the cases become infested, fumigate them with 

 bisulphide of carbon. Here, again, bear in mind that 

 this liquid is dangerously inflammable. Put a little of it 

 in each case. In a few hours it will evaporate. Then 

 open windows and ventilate the room before bringing 

 ]ights, or fire of any kind, near. 



Plants are mounted in various ways according to 

 individual taste and judgment. Sometimes they are 

 stuck down by slips of adhesive paper; oftener by glue. 

 We ourselves employ Le Page's carriage-glue, and thus 

 escape the nuisance of a glue-pot. The medium is always 

 ready. Apply the glue lightly on one side of the plant, 

 laid for the time on a sheet of waste paper. Then lay the 

 plant, sticky side down on the sheet to which it is to be 

 fixed. Place over ic some drying paper, and apply light 

 pressure. We often mount a hundred plants in a day. 

 Put only one species on a sheet. In order to make your 

 heap lie smooth in the case, arid without bulging in the 

 middle, place some plants on one margin of the page; 

 others on the opposite margin; some at the top, others at 

 the bottom. Leave room, if you can, for other specimens 

 of the same plant from other places. Apply your own. 

 label to the lower right-hand side; the collector's label to 

 the lower left. On these labels write leg'ibly the name 

 of the plant, the date and place of collection, and such 

 other data as can be compressed in so limited space. A 



