THE HERBARIUM. 381 



809. The specimens representing each species may either be 

 laid within a doubled sheet, loosely (as in some European her- 

 baria), or fastened in place by narrow slips of gummed paper 

 (which is much better) , or else they may be glued bodily to 

 single sheets of strong and stiff white paper. 



810. The former is an excellent plan for a limited collection. 

 It is an advantage that a specimen can be taken up and examined 

 on all sides ; also, that indifferent specimens can at any time be 

 exchanged for better ones. But a large herbarium on this plan 

 becomes cumbrous and inconvenient for ready reference and 

 comparison. 



811. The best plan in a large herbarium, and one much to be 

 consulted, is to attach the specimens completely, by any kind 

 of strong and light-colored glue, to single sheets, or rather half 

 sheets. The specimens are thus safe from injury under reason- 

 able handling, and can be turned over and examined with as 

 much facility as a series of maps or engravings. The species- 

 paper should be of writing-paper stock, or of equal firmness, of 

 compact texture, well sized and calendered, and of a weight in 

 size of 16 by 11 J inches of about 18 pounds to the ream of 

 480 flat sheets. The paper should be furnished square-cut on 

 all sides, in the manner of "flat cap." Stiffness is the great 

 desideratum. 



812. In no case should more than one species be knowingly 

 attached to the same sheet. But of very many species there will 

 be room for more than one specimen. And specimens from dif- 

 ferent localities, of different forms, and in various stages of 

 flowering and fructification, are always desirable. The full name 

 of the plant should be written at the lower right-hand corner of 

 the sheet, or a ticket should there be attached by glue or traga- 

 canth paste. Each specimen should have its ticket, similarly 

 attached, or a memorandum upon the sheet, indicating the hab- 

 itat or the special locality, date of collection, name of collector, 

 and any other desirable information which the specimens them- 

 selves do not furnish. When there are loose flowers or fruits, or 

 when any of these have been detached for dissection and micro- 

 scopical investigation, it is well to preserve them, placing them 

 in little paper pockets or envelopes and pasting these upon the 

 sheet close to the specimen to which they pertain. Sketches of 

 parts dissected may be drawn upon the sheet. Notes and mem- 

 oranda received with the specimen or too extended to be entered 

 upon the sheet may be folded, inserted in such envelopes, and 

 made fast to the sheet. Many botanical collections are distrib- 

 uted with printed tickets. These, and all authenticating tickets 



