Chapter XXI. 

 THE HERBARIUM. 



A student who takes any interest in the study of plants 

 is certain to make some sort of a collection of dried speci- 

 mens. He may just as well make a creditable collection 

 while he is about it, and save himself a lot of future trouble 

 when he comes to value his work. At the very outset 

 a student may collect small pieces of flowering shrubs or 

 ferns, and, after pressing till dry, mount them in a draw- 

 ing book or album, attaching to each specimen the name, 

 date, and place where found. This is a satisfactory pro- 

 cedure for a time, and useful to familiarise one with the 

 scientific names of plants, but as soon as the very juvenile 

 period is passed, a serious collection, now called a herb- 

 arium, should be made. 



Never gather rubbish. The collection will rapidly grow, 

 and soon all the poor specimens will have to be thrown 

 out to make room for better ones, and so much labour and 

 material will have been lost. Gather specimens with good 

 flowers or fruit, and these when properly dried and 

 mounted will last for all time. 



Let your specimen be a liberal size, say twelve inches 

 long. Where the whole plant is smaller than this, mount 

 stem, roots, and all. Where very small, fix many plants 

 on the mount, and if advisable put them in envelopes, 

 and stick the envelopes on the mount. Where the speci- 

 men is clumsy trim off leaves and side-shoots till the speci- 

 men will lie flat on the paper. Never gather in damp 

 weather or mildew will ruin the flowers. Before your 

 specimens shall have time to wilt proceed to press them. 

 This is done by placing each specimen between folds of 

 absorbent paper or many layers of old newspaper, and 

 keeping them under pressure till quite dry. Unless the 

 plants are of a very dry nature the paper must be fre- 

 quently changed, and the frequency will depend on the 

 nature of the plant. Any neglect means mildew, and 

 rotting of delicate parts. A very effective press may be 

 made by putting the bundles of paper and specimens on 

 the floor, a flat and broad piece of wood on the top, and 

 on this heavy weights, such as iron, stones, or bricks. 



