CHAPTER XV. 



COLLECTING AND PRESERVING SPECIMENS 

 FOR CABINETS OR EXHIBITION. PER- 

 FUMERY. LABELS. PRESERVING V^OOD. 



I. Collecting and Preserving Plants 



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 portions 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 succulent or very juicy, newspapers in 

 several thicknesses may be used. It is best to place the speci- 

 mens in sheets of thin paper — grocer's tea-paper is good — and 

 place these sheets between the driers. INIany specimens can be 

 placed in a pile. On top of the pile place a short board and a 

 weight of 30 or 40 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 llj x 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 the best gum to use. 



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