134 REMARKS ON BOTANY. 



edge on one side is sharp for cutting those branches which 

 are out of reach, and the other side is to serve as a hook for 

 pulling down branches, that specimens may be obtained of the 

 fruit, flowers, and leaves, of high trees. (See plate V., fig. 14.) 



When the botanist has arrived at a place where he is to be 

 some time stationary, the plants collected are removed from 

 the boxes, and each placed between a separate piece of dry 

 blotting paper, and two or more sheets should intervene be- 

 twixt every plant. The whole should then be put between 

 the boards, and well strapped together, and placed in a dry 

 and warm situation. The paper ought to be changed every 

 day for some time, to prevent mouldiness from the damp. 



Tender and marine plants should be placed in a plate of 

 pure water, and a piece of strong white paper introduced be- 

 neath them, and the plants can then be nicely arranged, and 

 then taken out to dry, which is done by raising them slowly in 

 an oblique direction, and when they are half dried they must 

 be placed between paper, and subjected to pressure. When 

 the plants are of a very tender nature, they should be placed 

 on talk, or glass. 



Seeds which are produced in pods ought to be kept in these, 

 and to prevent them from opening, a thread must be tied round 

 them. 



It is of great consequence to have specimens of the trunks 

 of trees with their bark entire. Stumps of a foot in length 

 are necessary to exhibit these properly ; that is, if they do 

 not exceed a foot in diameter. But if the trunk exceeds that 

 size, a branch of about that dimension must be chosen. But 

 if the branches differ from the trunk in external structure, 

 which they frequently do, the trunk itself must be chosen. 

 Let it be cut half or a quarter through, and make a longitu- 

 dinal section of that portion ; that is, it should be cut out of 

 the trunk; but in all cases extending from the pith to the 

 bark. 



FUNGI of a fleshy nature must be preserved in spirits, in the 

 same manner as fruits. 



Cryptogamic botany which has, till late years, been much 

 neglected, is now exciting general interest. Many of these 

 plants are parasites, existing on living vegetables, and appear 

 like spots, or excrescences on leaves, stems &c. These should 



