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Some succulent plants, as for instance our Rock Lily, 

 will continue to flower and go to seed while in the press. 

 To prevent this, the plant, all but the flowers, may be 

 plunged into boiling water for a second or two. Some 

 heaths will too readily shed their leaves when dry; the 

 same treatment if applied will have a beneficial result. 



Succulent plants, such as Orchids, may be satisfactorily 

 dried by placing between absorbent paper, and ironing 

 with a hot iron. 



When the specimen is properly dry it may be preserved 

 in folds of paper or in boxes, but the more convenient 

 method is to mount it. This is done by attaching it to a. 

 sheet of paper by the use of gum, or by sewing or by 

 strips of lead. The mount may be of any quality from 

 cartridge paper to old newspaper, according to one's dis- 

 position to economise. The size should be uniform, say 

 15 inches long bv 9 broad, certainly the sheets should not 

 be much smaller or there will be trouble when large 

 specimens have to be dealt with. 



On the mount a label should be attached, giving the 

 name of the plant, where gathered, by whom, and date. 

 Details of structure may be drawn on the paper. 



Small insects are rather fond of herbarium specimens, 

 arid will destroy our precious objects if not prevented 

 Specimens may be rendered poisonous by . being dipped in 

 a solution of corrosive sublimate or, better, by sprinkling 

 a little naphthaline between the sheets. Ferns require 

 the same treatment as flowering plants, only never keep 

 specimens unless they have the masses of spore sacks on 

 them. Sterile leaves are worthless. Mosses are very con 

 venient plants to collect, for they may be stuffed in a seed 

 envelope, and when wanted readily soak out to their 

 original fonn. Sterile specimens of mosses are of value, 

 but fruiting ones are better. 



Fungi afford a fascinating pursuit, but one cannot go 

 far in it without the use of microscope. Many of them 

 do not change when dry, others will restore fairly well 

 when soaked, others again, such as the Agarics or Toad- 

 stools hopelessly degenerate. Such plants can only be 

 recorded by making a correct drawing in proper colours, 

 for colour is of great importance in these Fungi, noting 

 also size, colour and shape of the spores. The specimens 

 when mounted and labelled will be kept in portfolios or 

 cabinets according to the convenience of the collector. 



John Vait, Government Printer, Tasmania 



