4s a LOSS A KY OF 



THE HERBARIUM. 



Those who are anxious to make the most of their botanical 

 studies will find it of great advantage to gather and pre- 

 serve specimens for reference. A few hints, therefore, on 

 this subject will not be out of place. It will, of course, be 

 an object to collectors to have their specimens exhibit as 

 man}- of their natural characters as possible, so that, 

 although dried and pressed, there will be no difficult}- in 

 recognizing them ; and to this end neatness and care are 

 tlie first requisites. 



Collecting. 



Specimens should be collected when the plants are in flower, 

 and, if possible, on a dry day, as the flowers are then in 

 better condition than if wet. If the plant is small, the 

 whole of it, root and all, should be taken up ; if too 

 large to be treated in this w^ay, a flower and one or two 

 of the leaves (radical as well as cauline^ if these be 

 different) may be gathered. 



Drying. 



As manj' of your specimens will be collected at a distance 

 from home, a close tin box, which maj' be slung over 

 the shoulder by a strap, should be provided, in which 

 the plants may be kept fresh, particularly if a few drops 

 of water be sprinkled ujjon them. Perhaps a better waj', 

 however, is to carry a portfolio of convenient size — 

 say 15 inches by 10 inches — made of two pieces of stout 

 pasteboard or thin deal, and having a couple of straps 

 with buckles for fastening it together. Between the 

 covers should be placed sheets of blotting-paper or coarse 

 wrapping-paper, as many as will allow the specimens to 

 be separated by at least five or six sheets. The advan- 

 tage of the portfolio is, that the plants maj' be placed 

 between the sheets of blotting-paper, and subjected 

 to pressure by means of the straps as soon as they are 

 gathered. If carried in a box, they should be trans- 

 ferred to paper as soon as possible. The specimens 

 should be spread out with great care, and the crumpling 

 and doubling of leaves guarded against. The onlj^ way 

 to prevent moulding is to place plenty of i^aper between 

 the plants, and chaiuje the paper frequently ; the fre- 

 quency depending on the amount of moisture contained 

 in the specimens. From ten days to a fortnight will be 

 found sufficient for the thorough drjn'ng of almost any 

 plant you are likely to meet with. Having made a pile 

 of specimens with paper between them, as directed, they 

 should be placed on a table or floor, covered by a flat 



