COLLECTION OP SPECIMENS 151 



powerful lens for the purpose of elucidating more 

 minute or doubtful details, and for this latter 

 purpose know of nothing more serviceable than 

 one of Browning's " Platyscopic " lenses, with a 

 magnifying power of ten diameters; this is a 

 beautiful instrument, with an unusually large 

 and flat field for the examination of opaque 

 objects. 



It is often impossible, when gathering specimens, 

 to avoid bringing away with them some of the 

 soil in which they are growing; and as this not 

 only adds to the bulk of the parcel, but will also 

 give no little trouble when a microscopic slide 

 has to be mounted, it is always advisable as far 

 as possible, to get rid of it at once, before it has 

 had time to dry and harden. The forceps will 

 prove of considerable service in this operation, 

 though, if a stream should be near at hand, the 

 desired object will be best attained by holding 

 the specimen loosely in the hand, and allowing the 

 current to run through the fingers, and thus to 

 remove the dirt and grit without washing away 

 the plant itself. On reaching home, the envelopes 

 that have been used should be placed in an up- 

 right position in a warm room, with the ends 

 opened as widely as possible, so as to admit air ; 

 and the paper packets should be unfolded. By 

 this means the specimens will get thoroughly dry 

 before they are put away a matter of no little 

 moment, seeing that otherwise mould and mildew 



