FLOWERING PLANTS INTRODUCTORY 113 



and the whole left for twenty-four hours. The papers should 

 then be changed for the first time, each specimen being lifted and 

 carefully arranged again on a new and dry sheet. In its limp 

 condition this is more easily done than when the plant was 

 fresh, and great care should be taken to place the parts of the 

 plant in the positions they are to permanently occupy. A longer 

 interval, depending on the succulence of the plants, may elapse 

 before the next change of papers, and after two or three changes 

 the plants may be left for a week or two until thoroughly dry. 



They should then be mounted on sheets of stiff white paper a 

 little smaller than the drying sheets ; 16 inches by 10 inches is a 

 convenient size. After laying the plant in the right position on 

 the sheet it can be fastened down with strips of gummed paper, 

 crossing the stems and leaf-stalks at intervals. If necessary a 

 touch of strong gum will serve to fasten down any slacker portions. 

 The sheet should then be labelled with the scientific name of the 

 plant, its English name, the situation and locality in which it was 

 found, and the date at which it was collected. This is all that is 

 done with ordinary specimens for a collection, but in the case 

 of plants which have been carefully studied, the specimen, as it 

 lies on the sheet, may be treated like a drawing, and all the chief 

 parts labelled. Notes and sketches of details of the flower or 

 other features not shown in a dried specimen may, if it is desired, 

 be added, and the specimen will thus serve as a fairly complete 

 record of the observations made. Such specimens are not only 

 useful for reference, but may be of great value in teaching. Thus 

 when a plant is being studied in its winter condition the specimen 

 will show what it was like when in flower in the summer. 



While thorough dissection and study of specimens of a plant 

 are necessary, and dried specimens are useful for future reference, 

 it must never be forgotten that these are merely aids to the under- 

 standing of the plant as a living being growing in its own place 

 in nature and having a definite life-history. Every opportunity 

 should be taken of observing the plant growing in natural sur- 

 roundings, and at various times of the year. This applies also 

 to cultivated plants, though in them the competition with other 

 plants cannot be directly studied. Every plant in a wild state is 

 in competition with its neighbours, and should be regarded from 



VOL. III. 8 



