GATHERING WILD FLOWERS 95 



rounding growth and loosens the roots. Many 

 plants are so lightly fastened in the earth that 

 the slightest pull uproots them. 



Too much cannot be said against greedy and 

 destructive gathering. The true naturalist 

 picks a plant carefully, measuring with the 

 eye the length of stem that can be accommo- 

 dated in the press, and cutting it off at that 

 point. 



A really complete specimen should show 

 root, stem, leaves, buds, and flowers. When 

 the fruit matures rapidly examples may often 

 be found on the same branch as the buds, and 

 such plants should be chosen for the herba- 

 rium ; but in most cases specimens of the plant 

 in fruit have to be gathered and preserved 

 later. It is quite easy to include the roots of 

 small plants, such as Violets and Anemones. 

 The roots of taller plants must be cut off and 

 mounted at the side of the main portion. 

 Some botanists do not preserve the roots of 

 their plants. Roots are a little awkward in 

 the press, but if treated like all other knobby 

 parts of plants they may be mounted very 

 successfully (see p. 127). If not included in 



