ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. 



215 



§0tiinua;l g^partm^ni 



'ASEY, Editor, Bichview, Ills. 



THE HERBARIUM. 



Tlic objects ill Nature are so numerous and 

 (livi'i-sitied that it is impossible for any one to 

 retain in tlie iniiid a distinct and clear conception 

 of all the species in any one of the departments 

 of Nature. Every Naturalist also knows how 

 difficult it is to describe, by pen or type, clearly 

 and accurately the cliaracters of a species, so 

 that it may be easily identified. Hence the im- 

 portance, ill the ditterent departments of Natural 

 science, of collections or museums of natural 

 olijects. For instance, it is impossible to give a 

 learner a clear idea of the nature of granite, lime- 

 stoiip. sandstone, or other rocks and minerals 

 without an examination of specimens. Indeed, 

 it may be safely stated that no man can become 

 a good Naturalist without the preseiTation, in 

 s(ime form, of the objects of his research. 



In pursuing the study of Botauy, it is of the 

 greatest importance that specimens of the plants 

 examined should be presei-ved for comparison 

 with other species. We hope many of our read- 

 ers will commence with the opening of spring to 

 make collections of dried plants, and to aid them 

 in this work, we present a few directions, by 

 following which, we think, they will succeed in 

 obtaining satisfactory specimens. 



A \ery good and convenient press consists 

 merely of two i)ieces of planed board, each about 

 fourteen by twenty inclies, and with two cleats 

 screwed across each hoard to prevent it from 

 warping or splitting. 



Next provide an abundance of paper for dryers ; 

 coniniou wrapping paper will do, about twelve 

 liy eighteen inches in size; or newspapers folded 

 to about tliat size will answer. Then we want a 

 quantity of jilaiii wliite iirinting paper, of about 

 tlie same size. Newspapers folded to the proper 

 size will do for inaii> plants, but tlie white print- 

 ing pajier is best. 



Now, how much of a plant shall we take for a 

 specimen:' Whenever the ])laut is small enough 

 to go into a sheet ten by sixteen inches, without 

 much crowding of the parts, take the whole 

 ])lant while in flower, or what is better, in flower 

 and fruit, when possible, and with the root also, 

 or a part of tlie root, if large. The principle is 

 to have as tair and full a representation as pos- 

 sible of all the part.s of the plant. 



The roots, or the bulbs and tubers, of some 

 plants are important characters, and sometimes 



furnish distinctive marks of gi-eat value. When 

 the bulb or tuber is large and bulky, it will be 

 best to slice off longitudinal pieces to reduce it 

 to proper size. Some long and slender plants, as 

 grasses, can be easily bent once or twice, so as 

 to include the whole plant in a single sheet. But 

 where the plant is too large to be used entire, we 

 take a portion — as a branch, willi leaves, tlowers 

 and fruit if possible. 



In some cases we have to take siieciinens of a 

 plant at different times, in order fully to repre- 

 sent its characters. Kor instance, some Willows, 

 the Elms and some Maples, develop tlieir flowers. 

 and nearly mature their fruit, liefore tlie leaves 

 are fully expanded. In this case we get speci- 

 mens, first of the flowers and afterwards of tlie 

 leaves and fruit. 



Now, suppose we are ready to iirejiare a bo- 

 tanical specimen. We first lay down one of the 

 press boards, ujion which we place five or six 

 sheets of the drying paper. Next the specimen 

 is to be spread out, as naturally as possil)le. on 

 the white .slieet. Of small plants several speci- 

 mens may often be placed on one sheet. This 

 sheet, containing the specimen or specimens, is 

 next to be placed on the layer of dryers, and five 

 or six sheets more of dryers to be jjlaced above 

 it. Now, if we have any more specimens, we 

 may fill another white sheet and place on more 

 dryers, and so alternate them until we have in 

 press all the specimens we wish. Then we place 

 the other "l)ress-board ou the top of all, and upon 

 it we place a heavy weight, not generally less 

 than fifty pounds, and for most plants, especially 

 when there are many in the press, a hundred 

 pounds wUl not be too much. 



The usual custom is to leave the press in this 

 state for about twenty-four hours, then remove 

 the dryers, wliich have by this time become daiii]) 

 with the moisture absorl)ed froui the iihints. and 

 replace them with fresh ones: then reii])ply the 

 \\ eights and leave them for another day, repeat- 

 iiii^ ihe cliiiiige of dryers daily until the moisture 

 i- entirely removed from the specimens, which 

 will usually require about one week. Some 

 succulent plants will require a longer time. The 

 damp papers may be dried and prepared for use 

 again by half an hour's exposure to a hot sun, or 

 if necessary they are to be dried by the stove. 



It frequently happens that, after a lot of plants 

 have been in press for one, two, or more days, 

 we ^^'ant to introduce more specimens. In this 

 case we should separate the fresh ones from the 

 others by intervening a piece of oiled cloth, or 

 oiled paper. When dry the specimens are to be 

 carefully put away in the Herbarium. 



We shall be surer of making good specimens, 



