EUROPEAN HERBARIA. 11 



fully cut to the same size, which is usually 16| inches by 10|, 

 and the name of the species is written on the lower right- 

 hand corner. All the species of a genus if they are few in 

 number, or any convenient subdivision of a larger genus, are 

 enclosed in a whole sheet of the same quality, and labelled at 

 the lower left-hand corner. These parcels, properly arranged, 

 are preserved in cases or closets, with folding-doors made to 

 shut as closely as possible, being laid horizontally into com- 

 partments just wide enough to receive them, and of any con- 

 venient depth. In the Banksian herbarium, the shelves are 

 also made to draw out like a case of drawers. This method 

 is unrivalled for elegance, and the facility with which the 

 specimens may be found and inspected, which to a working 

 botanist with a large collection is a matter of the greatest 

 consequence. The only objection is the expense, which be- 

 comes very considerable when paper worth at least ten dol- 

 lars per ream is employed for the purpose, which is the case 

 with the principal herbaria in England ; but a cheaper paper, 

 if it be only sufficiently thick and firm, will answer nearly as 

 well. The Banksian herbarium contains authentic specimens 

 of nearly all the plants of Aiton's " Hortus Kewensis," in 

 which many North American species were early established. 

 It is hardly proper indeed, that either the elder or younger 

 Aiton should be quoted for these species, since the first edi- 

 tion was prepared by Solander, and the second revised by 

 Dryander, as to vol. 1 and 2, and the remainder by Mr. 

 Brown. Many American plants from the Physic garden at 

 Chelsea, named by Miller, are here preserved, as also from 

 the gardens of Collinson, Dr. Fothergill (who was Bartram's 

 correspondent after Collinson's death), Dr. Pitcairne, etc. 

 There are likewise many contributions of indigenous plants of 

 the United States, from Bartram, Dr. Mitchell, Dr. Garden, 

 Fraser, Marshall, and other early cultivators of botany in this 

 country. The herbarium also comprises many plants from 

 Labrador and Newfoundland, a portion of which were col- 

 lected by Sir Joseph Banks himself ; and in the plants of 

 the northern and arctic regions it is enriched by the collec- 

 tions of Barry, Ross, and Dr. Richardson. Two sets of 



