HERBARIUM 545 



For samples of corn, buckwheat, rye, rice, and other commercial 

 grains, it is well to use one of the small fruit-jars. The weed seeds 

 may be put up in vials with wide necks. 



Collecting and Preserving Plants for Herbaria 



Collect samples of all parts of the plant, — lower and upper leaves, 

 stem, flowers, fruit, and in most cases roots. In small species, those 

 two feet high or less, the whole plant should be taken. Of larger 

 plants, take parts about a foot long. Press the plants between 

 papers or '^ driers." These driers may be any thick porous paper, 

 as blotting-paper or carpet-paper, or, for plants that are not succu- 

 lent or very juicy, newspapers in several thicknesses may be used. 

 It is best to place the specimens in sheets of thin paper — grocer's 

 tea paper is good — and place these sheets between the driers. 

 Many specimens can be placed in a pile. On top of the pile place 

 a short board and a weight of thirty or forty pounds, or a lighter 

 weight if the pile is small and the plants are soft. Change the driers 

 every day. The plants are dry when they become brittle, and when 

 no moisture can be felt by the fingers. Some plants will dry in two 

 or three days, while others require as many weeks. If the pressing is 

 properly done, the specimens will come out smooth and flat and the 

 leaves will usually be green, although some plants always turn black 

 in drying. 



Specimens are usually mounted on single sheets of white paper of the 

 stiffness of very heavy writing paper or thin bristol-board. The 

 standard size of sheet is 11^ by 16| inches. The plants may be 

 pasted down permanently and entirely to the sheet, or they may be 

 held on by strips of gummed paper. In the former case, Denison's 

 fish-glue is a good gum to use. Only one species or variety should 

 be placed on a sheet. Specimens that are taller than the length of 

 a sheet should be doubled over when they are pressed. The species 

 of a genus are collected into a genus cover. This cover is a folded sheet 

 of heavy manila or other firm paper, and the standard size, when folded, 

 is 12 by 16j inches. On the lower left-hand corner of this cover 

 the name of the genus is written. A label should accompany each 

 specimen upon the separate sheets, recording the name, date of col- 

 lecting, name of the collector, and any notes that may be of interest, 

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