1.24 HERBARIUM. 



HERBARIUM. 



A collection of dried specimens of plants is called 

 an Herbarium or Hortus siccus. 



Upon the subject of collecting and preparing speci- 

 mens 1 refer the reader to Smith's botany and to Rich- 

 ard's Dictionary, New-Haven translation, giving at the 

 same time the outlines of a metbod which I have found 

 very successful in practice. 



The most usual method of preparing specimens, 

 is to dry them between papers under pressure, which 

 is the method I am to give some account of. 



When a specimen is taken it should be put into the 

 portfolio or into a book immediately, before it wilts to al- 

 ter its habit. Very little care should be taken in placing 

 the various parts, except that some of the flowers may 

 be laid open so as to display the parts which compose 

 them. If the plant be small, the root and all the oth- 

 er parts should be taken. If it be tall like the grasses, it 

 should be cut into pieces and brought upon the paper, or 

 partially broken in several places and folded down once 

 or more in a zigzag manner, passing the last fold ob- 

 liquely across the others, and tying it to them with silk 

 or thread where it crosses them, that it may keep in 

 place when handled. 



Every thing belonging to the natural habit of the 

 plant should be preserved ; the dead leaves should be 

 suffered to remain, and even a little of the native rub- 

 bish upon the roots often indicates the peculiar situa- 

 tion in which the plant grows. 



The specimens are next to be dried under pressure, 

 which may be applied by laying a board upon the pa- 

 pers containing them, and putting weights upon it, or 

 by placing them between two shelves and setting a prop 

 down upon them, or by a press made for the purpose. 

 There should be paper enough to accommodate itself 

 to the inequalities of the specimens, and by pressing 

 upon them uniformly and equally in every part to pre- 



