PRESERVATION FOR THE HERBARIUM. 39 



their fall growth. If, however, more than a single speci- 

 men of each kind is preserved, the perfectly mature and the 

 incipient states of fructification should also be gathered ; 

 but in the majority of cases the intermediate state will 

 afford the best materials for subsequent examination and 

 recognition. 



Of course, when the species produces two or more kinds of 

 fronds, examples of each must be preserved, as, for instance, 

 in the Allosorus crispus, the fertile fronds of winch alone 

 would convey but a very indifferent notion of the plant. 

 The necessity of attending to this point is even more strik- 

 ingly apparent in such exotic genera as the Strutkiopteris, 

 and almost all the species related to the Acrosticliums. 



After being thoroughly dried under pressure, the speci- 

 mens, according to their size, should be arranged, singly if 

 large, or in groups resembling the natural tufts, if sufficiently 

 small, on one side only of a series of sheets of stout white 

 paper, to which they should be fastened by a few thread 

 ties, or gummed straps, in preference to being pasted down 

 with glue. The specimens, however, admit of a much more 

 convenient and searching examination when kept loose in a 

 folded sheet of paper ; but if there should be frequent occa- 

 sion to handle such loose Specimens, they will be found much 



